Edward Slade’s Post

Are International Students Really to Blame for Australia’s Rental Crisis? The ongoing debate over capping student visas as a solution to the housing crisis in Australian cities seems to be based on shaky evidence. The "Myth Busting International Students’ Role in the Rental Crisis" (https://lnkd.in/gm7_x_nC) report by Torie Brown and Anouk Darling from the Property Council of Australia highlights the lack of support for claims that international students are driving up rental demand, increasing rents nationwide, or crowding Australians out of the rental market. Restricting international students may not lead to a more relaxed rental market. Instead, it could harm academic jobs, which are already insecure, and disappoint young people hoping to study in Australia. However, this does not undermine the urgent need for universities to take a more proactive role in providing affordable student accommodation—certainly better than the current rates of $700-900 per week! (https://lnkd.in/gyvJwebF)

International students have minimal impact on rents according to new analysis from the Property Council. Basically the timing doesn't line up, there isn't many of them in proportion to the total number of renters, they tend to share, and they are concentrated in certain locations. The main driver of higher rents according to this report is changes in average people per dwelling since COVID. Glad that someone has done the numbers on this issue. Definitely aligns with my intuitions. I'm open to counterarguments. The main limitation that I can see is that it looks at international students as a proportion of all rents. And average rents aren't actually that high. The spike in rents reflects advertised rents, and there is a lot of inertia in rental prices. I suspect that international students are a much higher proportion of new renters. Hopefully this report gets some good coverage over the next few days given the prominence of current campaigns to reduce international student numbers due to housing affordability concerns. https://lnkd.in/gYtVUUTY #agedcare #education #immigration

International students not to blame for the rental crisis - a Student Accommodation Council report making headlines this morning... “International students have been unfairly blamed for the rental crisis, yet this report shows that long term structural issues in Australia’s housing market are the real cause for rental pressures,” - Torie Brown Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council. In this landmark report released by the Student Accommodation Council it has been revealed that international students are not the cause of the housing crisis – making up only four per cent of Australia’s rental market Australia wide. The report finds that a complex web of supply and demand drivers are all contributing to Australia’s over-heated rental market. Listen to Torie Brown on AM ABC Radio https://lnkd.in/gXM9UpCM Read the full report here https://lnkd.in/gsm_ib6q Read the full media release https://lnkd.in/gkZJ865A Mike Zorbas Cath Evans, GAICD Jess Caire Bruce Djite Emily Young Katie Stevenson Shane Martin Ruth Palmer MBA Rebecca Ellston Daniel Gannon Antony Knep MREI Ellie Laing-Southwood GAICD Rhys Prka Anouk Darling Tomas Johnsson Richard Smith Craig Carracher AM Bernard Armstrong Anthony Bolger Ian Davidoff Tim Klitscher Victor Lor Robert Moyle Wee Ping Goh Campus Living Villages Cedar Pacific Centurion Corporation Limited GSA - Global Student Accommodation Iglu Student Accommodation Journal Student Living Pamoja Capital Scape Australia Student One UniLodge Wee Hur Capital Pte Ltd Y Suites Yugo #studentaccommodation #pbsa #internationalstudents #rentalcrisis #housingsupply #rentalaffordability #housingaffordability

International students have minimal impact on Australia’s rental market, according to a new report. Countering commentary that the influx of overseas students is a leading cause of the housing unaffordability crisis, a Student Accommodation Council report found international students accounted for 4 percent of the nation’s renters. The report also looked at historical data on overseas student numbers and the rental market. Read the full story https://lnkd.in/geMK8cT6 #internationalstudents #rentalcrisis #newsreel

Renting families, overseas students not in competition International students are not competing directly with families in the rental market as they typically prefer inner-city apartments over standalone homes in the suburbs, new research suggests. Australian renters have experienced eye-watering rental increases over the past few years and stiff competition for available properties, with vacancy rates hovering around record lows. Fingers have been pointed at international students returning after borders reopened but the property industry research challenged this narrative and said there were a range of pandemic-fuelled housing trends and long-term structural issues at play. The study commissioned by the Student Accommodation Council found only three per cent of international students lived in detached houses, with the vast majority – 74 per cent – in accommodation purpose-built for the cohort close to universities.  Another eight per cent were living in apartments.  The research https://lnkd.in/ghPKjGhb

International students are not the cause of the housing crisis – making up only four per cent of Australia’s rental market Australia-wide. While blaming international students for our failure to plan is an easy way to deflect responsibility, it is simply untrue. It might also be wise of us to consider the reputational risks to one of our largest exports when false narratives are perpetuated. #internationalstudents #exports #housingcrisis

New international and domestic student research released. Some myth busting facts and figures as we address nationally the intersection of big policy domains around Housing, Immigration and Education. Hopefully more empirical work will be done to bust the emotional responses and side with facts and figures to address our public policy needs. Well done Property Council of Australia Accenture and Student Accommodation Council. Scape Australia

Recent reports dispute the idea that international students are the primary cause of Australia's low housing vacancy rates and rental fee increases. Instead, these are attributed to supply-side factors. 🏠 According to data, rental costs began increasing in 2020, before the return of international students post-pandemic. International students make up only 4% of all renters and most live in purpose-built student accommodation. 📚 Read more about Australia's rental housing crisis report: https://lnkd.in/dubaYWCE #InternationalStudents #StudentAccommodation #HousingCrisis #Australia

Amid the housing crunch, there's been a lot of talk about whether international students are to blame for exacerbating rental issues. However, a recent report from the Student Accommodation Council sets the record straight: international students make up just a small fraction, at 4%, of the rental market. Rather than pointing fingers at international students, who play a significant role in Australia's economy, we need to focus on tackling the broader housing challenges we're facing. Putting a cap on international student numbers could do more harm than good, not just to our economy but also to our reputation as a welcoming destination. It's time to embrace inclusivity and consider all the factors at play if we want to find a sustainable solution to the housing challenges. #housingcrisis #internationalstudents #affordablehousing

In the ongoing conversation surrounding Australia's rental crisis, it's crucial to dissect the complexities at play. Amidst claims placing blame on international students for increasing Australia's rental crisis, recent research offers a compelling counter-narrative. But are international students truly the primary drivers of rental crisis? Contrary to popular belief, international students represent only a modest 4% of the country's rental market. It's time to debunk the myth and recognize the multifaceted factors driving rental demand and affordability challenges. A closer look reveals a mix of factors shaping Australia's rental crisis. From the rise in solo-person households to shifting location preferences urged by the pandemic, the dynamics extend far beyond international student migration. It's important to acknowledge the broader context when talking about the rental crisis. The report by Student Accommodation Council highlights the interplay between supply constraints and escalating demand pressures. How do supply constraints intensify the rental affordability challenge? Challenges such as rising construction costs, planning restrictions, and extensive approval processes have delayed the timely delivery of rental properties, worsening affordability issues. By addressing these systemic barriers, we can have a more balanced rental market ecosystem. But how can we reshape the conversation around international students and the rental crisis? By boosting the pipeline of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and addressing systemic barriers to rental supply, we can create a more sustainable and equitable housing market. Let's seize this opportunity to rethink our approach and embrace innovative solutions that benefit all stakeholders. You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/gCD4rq4E #InternationalEducation #RentalCrisis #HousingAffordability #DataDrivenInsights #InclusiveSolutions