The Melbourne fringe suburb of Hoppers Crossing has been named Australia’s most ‘tenant-friendly’ for its close proximity to the CBD, low rent rates and mix of amenities.
New research from RentRabbit.com placed Hoppers Crossing at the top of its list of Australia’s 20 most tenant-friendly suburbs, with Victoria identified as the best state for renters.
Hoppers Crossing scored top billing as it is just 37km south-west of Melbourne’s CBD and is known for its mix of schools, sporting facilities and access to beaches and shopping centres.
The suburb has a median rent of just $350 per week, which is $10 lower than in January 2021.
Other tenant friendly locations were Wyndham Vale, Derrimut and Pakenham, all in Victoria. While Bellbird Park in the City of Ipswich in Queensland rounded out the top five.
Victoria dominated the latest quarterly ranking, with 15 suburbs on the top 20 list. Western Australia (3) and Queensland (2) were also represented.
All the suburbs had a median weekly rent of $405 or below, while most were located within 40km of the CBD.
The analysis focused on houses only as they are most suited to families. To make the top 20, suburbs needed to be less than 100 km from a capital city and with a Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) score above four; all while having the lowest possible median weekly rent.
RentRabbit.com.au co-founder Ben Pretty said finding affordable suburbs located close to CBDs was tough at the moment.
“Vacancy rates are low in many parts of Australia and landlords are responding by jacking up rental rates,” Mr Pretty said.
“I really feel for tenants who are being forced out of their homes and suburbs, especially when they have kids who are forced to change schools.
“The RentRabbit.com.au Tenant Opportunity Report aims to help everyday tenants identify rental markets that are affordable, while also being liveable and commutable. That way, they can focus on raising their families and building their lives, without having to worry about whether they can afford to pay their bills.”
