Victoria should introduce better price data for renters. The quarterly “Homes Victoria Rental Report” should be expanded and published on real estate listings by:
- type (house, apartment)
- bedrooms
- Local government area, but ideally by suburb
Prospective renters can then see how the listed price compares with the average and median prices in the area. Good quality, timely market information allows renters to more easily evaluate options and make informed decisions. Landlords must either match competitor rates to stay relevant or clearly justify a higher price.
Merri-bek (including Brunswick) has only 2.6% of affordable rental properties compared to City of Melbourne 1.1% and Hume 18.9%. Yarra (1.7%), Darebin (1.7%) and Moonee Valley (1.6%) fare worse, demonstrating that access to amenities and city employment opportunities are well factored into prices. Inner-city living remains a privileged position. Overall, metropolitan rental affordability was 9.7% for the September quarter 2025.
https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/publications/rental-report
There is a lot to like about Victoria’s regulation of the rental market (https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/know-the-fundarentals), especially the recent strengthening of housing standards. More should be done to enforce the Rental Bidding Ban, which most renters in inner-city areas know is a fact of life.
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/latest-news/no-price-no-ad-putting-a-stop-to-rental-bidding
Mel Yuan for Brunswick 
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