Some university students who have come to study in Australia say they have been unfairly blamed for the rental crisis. In fact, they themselves struggle to find suitable housing, and some even fall victim to unscrupulous landlords.
Student Accommodation Council发布的最新报告指出，澳洲长期存在的租房危机不应归咎于留学生。
According to the Department of Education, 463148 international students poured into Australia in 2022, and 582636 in 2023 hit a record high.
However, the report notes that international students make up only 4% of the rental market, compared to 6.2% of local students.
Torie Brown of the Student Accommodation Council said: "International students are responsible for the rental crisis, but this report shows that long-standing structural problems in the Australian housing market are the real reason for the rent hike. ”
Between 2019 and 2023, Australia's median rent rose by 24%, while the number of international students in Australia increased by just 4% over the same period.
From June to October 2023, the number of international students entering Australia increased by 18%, while the median rent rose by only 5%.
The report also reveals local government jurisdictions where international students account for more than 10% of the rental market, including capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, as well as suburbs such as Strathfield in NSW and Monash in Victoria.
Brown also said there are a number of factors influencing housing supply, such as 13% of tenants choosing to "live alone". "One of the biggest changes is that people are starting to convert their second and third bedrooms into dens. Previously, they would rent their vacant bedrooms to other people. ”
In addition, high construction costs and the increasing number of people moving from cities to remote areas have exacerbated the rental crisis.
Brown believes the solution to the housing supply shortage lies in building more dedicated student housing (PBSA).
Daniel Wild of the Institute of Public Affairs agrees that international students should not be "blamed" for Australia's low vacancy rate of 1%, but they are undoubtedly adding to the already tight housing supply.
"In the short term, to solve this problem, it is necessary to significantly reduce the overall demand pressure in the market, mainly from overseas immigration. Housing construction cannot be done overnight, it will take at least several years. ”
Ronan Xu, who is studying at the University of Sydney, said he had been looking for a house for a long time before finding a PBSA supplier.
"A lot of them are shared apartments, but I really need my own space. So I set my sights on off-campus, but off-campus rentals are generally unfurnished, and I can't see properties in person until I fly to Australia. ”
"So I turned my attention to fully furnished student accommodation and stumbled upon Scape. ”
Zhi Sheng Low, a student at the University of Queensland, said he struggled to find suitable accommodation in Brisbane.
"Before coming to Australia to study, I originally planned to share an apartment with two other friends, but our applications were repeatedly rejected and we didn't find a house to live in for more than a year. ”
"I was forced to sign up with an academy where I met my future roommates. I moved in with them a year ago and still live there. ”