Each year, the Anglicare network conducts the Rental Affordability Snapshot to shed light on the challenges low-income households experience in the private rental market. The latest 2026 Snapshot shows that only 0.1% of rental properties in Greater Sydney and the Illawarra are affordable for those relying on Government payments.
Of the 10,735 properties listed on the snapshot weekend, only a small proportion were comfortably affordable for renters on minimum wage or income benefits. Rentals appropriate and affordable for households on minimum wage have decreased 81% over 5 years.
Snapshot has consistently shown that renting in the private market is unaffordable for people living on government income support payments. For households on the minimum wage, the number of affordable rental properties has declined markedly in recent years, further limiting their options in a tight rental market and pushing them into housing stress.