The Cleaning Council of Western Australia held its 12th biennial AustralianSuper Cleaning Industry Excellence Awards, on Friday 6 October 2017.Held at Thompkins on the Swan Function Centre, the Cleaning Council of Western Australian received more than 70 individual and company nominations across the 15 award categories. Cleaning Council of WA president Lyn Whelan said the event, which had more than 120 people in attendance, provides a fantastic opportunity for owners and managers to show gratitude and thanks to their organisations greatest assets – their staff. “If it was not for the continued support of our sponsors, in particular our premier sponsor AustralianSuper this event could not be possible. As this is our 12th awards, we have seen such an improvement of the quality of nominations being presented by our members. This year the judging process was extremely hard due to the superiority of each nomination. “It just demonstrates the high level of training and professionalism that our Western Australian cleaning industry has and showcases that our industry is on par, if not in front, of other labour intensive industries within Western Australia,” Whelan said. Congratulations to the winners:Individual award winners:
Company award winners:
Main individual award winners:
The post WA cleaning industry celebrated at biennial awards appeared first on Australasia’s Cleaning Industry and Environmental Technology Magazine. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/wa-cleaning-industry-celebrated-at-biennial-awards/
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John Carroll, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at La Trobe University, penned a ridiculous article in Fairfax over the weekend hailing Melbourne as the bastion of Australia’s economic success:
Not once in the article did Carroll mention any downsides from Melbourne’s hyper-growth or ponzi economic model. A balanced assessment by Carroll would have acknowledged that the cost (and quality) of housing has unambiguously eroded, as evident by the huge escalation in Melbourne’s dwelling price-to-income ratio from 5.2 in 2002 to 7.5 in 2017, according to CoreLogic: A balanced assessment would also have acknowledged that the home ownership rate for those aged under-40 has fallen precipitously across Melbourne, from 36% in 2002 to just 21% in 2014 (and likely lower now): With the proportion of households thrown onto the rental market growing massively: And the proportion of new rental lettings that are ‘affordable’ to lower income households vanishing: With the proportion of lower income households now in ‘rental stress’ escalating: What sort of ‘miracle’ city throws its youth onto the housing scrap heap? Carroll’s claim that Victoria “has had the nation’s healthiest government balance sheet” is also dubious as it ignores the massive increase in stamp duties and land tax receipts, which will evaporate if/when the property bubble bursts: As well as the woeful under-investment in infrastructure by the State Government, which has left a critical infrastructure deficit across Melbourne. Carroll’s understanding of economics also leaves a lot to be desired. If he had bothered to study the data pertaining to Melbourne, he would have discovered that since the onset of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008, per capita gross state product (GSP) in Victoria had risen by a pathetic 0.8%: Whereas per capita State final demand has also barely risen since the GFC, despite robust (population-driven) aggregate growth: Carroll also would have discovered that Victoria (read Melbourne) has experienced the lowest increase in per capita GSP in the nation since the GFC: And that Victoria has the lowest per capita gross disposable income on the mainland, only beating out lowly Tasmania: What Carroll doesn’t seem to understand is that Victoria’s (Melbourne’s) economic pie has grown due to rampant population growth. But everyone’s slice of that pie has stayed the same (and shrunk once wider impacts are taken into account)! Victoria is running a ponzi economy based on endless population growth (mostly immigration), which in turn has juiced its services industries (think cafes, universities and financial services) and the housing construction industry (see below chart). Such a growth model is like a dog chasing its tail. There is activity but the per capita Victorian (Melbourneian) is no better off. Meanwhile, it accumulates debt as seen in Victoria’s trade performance. Exports recorded minimal growth in the 14 years to June 2016, whereas imports more than doubled. Accordingly, the state’s trade deficit had blown out to a whopping $47.5 billion in the year to June 2016 (see below charts). Other indicators of living standards that are not captured in the aggregate economic statistics have unambiguously gotten worse in Melbourne, as the city’s population has swelled by nearly one million people, or 26%, over the past decade (let alone to the projected 8 million people mid-century). Melbourne’s economic and social infrastructure is becoming increasingly crush-loaded every year as rampant population growth continually outstrips capacity, leading to overcrowding on roads, public transport, and in schools. Meanwhile, as noted above, housing affordability and rental availability has also deteriorated markedly on the back of the population deluge. And yet these huge costs have been ignored entirely by Carroll. Melbourne is running full tilt on a rat wheel economy that Australian politicians and their mates in a few chosen sectors are enriching themselves on. It is the perfect exemplar for what has gone wrong across the nation. And here we have academics like Carroll cheering this situation on as if it is some kind of economic miracle! YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED INfrom https://highpowerclean.com.au/ponzi-melbourne-is-no-economic-miracle-macrobusiness-blog/ ![]() Queensland’s economy is solid and giving people good reason to be upbeat about the future, according to Deloitte’s latest economic snapshot of the financial quarter. Construction and development appeared healthy to Deloitte’s analysts, who attributed some of Queensland’s strong economic outlook to high levels of interstate migration and international tourism, which have encouraged a growing list of tourism-related construction projects. Queensland’s international tourist arrivals are expected to remain solid over the forecast period, averaging growth of 4.7 per cent out to 2021. There were reasonable gains in engineering activity in Queensland, and Cross River Rail was in the planning stages. The report also put a focus on liveability and housing affordability. In the midst of the continuing debate over house prices and quality of living, Deloitte reported that Queensland has less cause for concern.
Despite this optimism, Queensland was revealed to be mirroring the national trend, showing a slight decline in outright home ownership and owners who have a mortgage. Rental stress was recorded to be higher than the national average, with more Queenslanders renting than owning their own home compared to the rest of the country. “But with a modest decline in rent in the June quarter CPI figures, increasing vacancy rates, and new supply from an easing residential construction boom the conditions could result in Brisbane becoming a renter’s market,” Deloitte said. Job growth was accelerating in Queensland and while population growth had “bottomed”, it was now back in line with the national average — although it remained below the level experienced in the state five years ago. In less positive news, CommSec’s latests State of the States report found Queensland’s economic performance had slipped to sixth place, hampered by weak business investment and retail spending. CommSec chief economist Craig James said that despite a recent surge in residential construction, oversupply is still a concern. Queensland would benefit from increased revenue generated by the state’s gas industry as well as spending that resulted from a rise in employment. Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt defended the state’s ranking saying that the CommSec report understated the state’s performance. “Most people’s economic indicator is whether they have a job or not and both the DAE and CommSec reports highlight our strong performance in job creation,” Pitt said. Of Queensland’s population of 4.7 million, more than half were recorded to be living outside of the state’s capital city. Queensland’s south-east corner, including Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, saw a growth rate in population twice that of the rest of the state. Despite Queensland’s size, urbanisation has taken hold — 66 per cent of the population living within 0.6 per cent of Queensland’s total area. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/queensland-economic-outlook-positive-deloitte-the-urban-developer/ Melbourne-based cleaning and property services provider GJK Facility Services has entered in a joint venture with entrepreneur Jasmine Groves to form GJK Indigenous Solutions. GJK Indigenous Solutions is a majority Indigenous-owned and operated commercial cleaning and associated services company and will be headed by Groves, whose great grandfather was Aboriginal activist Herbert (Bert) Stanley Groves. Having accumulated several years working with the Indigenous business sector, corporate and government entities across a range of industries including recruitment, education and training and supplier diversity practices Groves said she is ready to take the next step in her journey as a business owner. “I want to continue my family legacy, I want to contribute to the social and economic equality of my people, I believe with success comes a responsibility to give back and create opportunities for other people and businesses to succeed,” Groves said. “In an open and true joint venture, that we are proud of, GJK Facility Services have assisted us to organically grow, by presenting opportunities and allowing us to draw upon their capacity, success and experience.” ![]() GJK Indigenous Solution branding GJK Indigenous Solutions will be working closely with the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP), with the company’s short term goal to gain capacity in the Government sector. “Achieving this will pave the way for us to be one of the largest employers of Aboriginal people,” Groves said. “Our memberships with the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and Supply Nation have provided our clients with a level of assurance that we meet both corporate and community requirements to represent being an Indigenous business.” GJK Facility Services is one of the largest privately-owned providers of cleaning and related property services. George Stamas, director of GJK Facility Services, said the business’ core services will include cleaning, hygiene and waste services. “I believe that businesses can and should change lives and I am happy to offer my commitment, support and mentorship of Jasmine Groves in this great initiative,” Stamas said. “We have the capability and coverage to deliver services and provide a professional standard of cleaning across all states and territories.” Max Newman, executive general manager, GJK Indigenous Solutions, will lead the delivery of the new strategic plan over the next two years. “I’m really excited to be a part of this journey with GJK Indigenous Solutions, which wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for George Stamas and his executive team at GJK Facility Services,” Newman said. “I am really looking forward to adding value to the first years of this young business and ensuring it keeps to its foundations.” The post GJK enters joint venture to form GJK Indigenous Solutions appeared first on Australasia’s Cleaning Industry and Environmental Technology Magazine. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/gjk-enters-joint-venture-to-form-gjk-indigenous-solutions/ The Restoration Industry Association (RIA)’s Australian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow will be held in Queensland on 6 to 8 June, 2018. Formerly the Jena Dyco Conference and Tradeshow, the two-day event will take place at the Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast. The RIA announced it was taking over the conference from training organisation Jena Dyco International earlier this year in June. The conference has undergone several changes of ownership in Australia, having previously been run by National Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning Association (NUCCA) and Specialised Cleaning & Restoration Industry Association (SCRIA). Jena Dyco had facilitated the conference for the past last nine years. RIA said at the time of the announcement it would “honour the long history of the event and keep [the] conference uniquely programmed for [the] local restoration industry.” More information regarding the event will be released in the coming months. The post Local restoration conference sets 2018 date appeared first on Australasia’s Cleaning Industry and Environmental Technology Magazine. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/local-restoration-conference-sets-2018-date/ As people around the world move into cities and look for housing, one thing is clear: Most will have a hard time paying for it. Average monthly take-home pay won’t cover the cost of buying a 92-square-metre residence or renting a three-bedroom home in any of the 105 metropolitan areas ranked by the Bloomberg Global City Housing Affordability Index – based on a general rule of thumb among U.S. lenders that people should spend no more than 28 per cent of net income on housing costs. Only 12 cities would be considered affordable if they spend 50 per cent.
Residents face many obstacles, including urban land-use regulations, underdeveloped rental markets and difficulty getting financing, according to Enrique Martínez-García, a senior research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas who studies housing prices. Policy solutions to these problems aren’t clear, he adds. ![]() “Not having access to credit is a challenge to develop a healthy housing market,” he said. “But opening it up too fast might be a problem as well; it might actually lead to a boom-bust episode.” The Bloomberg index calculates the affordability of renting or buying in city centres and suburbs. Rankings are based on self-reported data, including net salary and mortgage interest rates, compiled by Numbeo.com, an online database of city and country statistics. Numbeo ranks Sydney at 27th out of 521 cities for highest cost of living, followed by Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide. Since 2012, 48 cities in the Bloomberg index have become less affordable, while affordability improved in 51. (Historical data aren’t available for all 105.) In nine of the bottom 10, average net income fell, while income in eight of the top 10 cities rose as rental and mortgage costs declined. Emerging economies currently have the least-affordable housing, led by Caracas and Kiev in Ukraine. The remaining cities among the bottom 20 include seven in Asia (four are Chinese) and six in Latin America. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second-largest city, average monthly take-home pay of $US640 ($818) won’t unlock a rental even on the outskirts of town, let alone provide the means to buy a house or apartment in the city centre, where monthly mortgage payments approach $US2,000. ![]() This contributes to multiple-income households and also may explain why more than one in five Rio residents lived in informal shantytowns called favelas in 2010, the most recent data available. Six of the 10 cities with the greatest deterioration in the past five years are in Latin America. Seven of the top 10 most-affordable cities are in North America: four in the U.S. and three in Canada. The least-affordable metro area in the two countries is Vancouver, where an influx of foreign cash has caused a surge in home prices. New York ranked near the middle of the index. Sydney is the worst performing Australian city ranked, with affordability at 75 to 99.9 per cent of a net monthly income – in the same ranking as Vancouver, San Francisco, Seoul and Tokyo, putting the harbour city in the middle of the pack, globally. Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth all rank in the 50-74.9 per cent bracket, putting them in the second most affordable group. Canberra is the most affordable, at 0 to 49.9 per cent. Two of the cities with the greatest improvement are in China: Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Even so, housing demand across the country continues to outweigh supply, “despite rapid construction and the large-scale delivery of new homes” in cities including Shenzhen, according to Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research at real-estate consultant Knight Frank in London. That’s because of “mass urbanisation” and relatively low wages, she said, adding that home prices in several cities grew at an annual rate of as much as 40 percent last year. Four Chinese metro areas, including Hong Kong, were among the 20 least-affordable in the index. With Fairfax Media. Methodology: The Bloomberg Global City Housing Affordability Index ranks 105 global and regional financial centers. Housing costs are based on the average of four components: the monthly mortgage payment for a 1,000-square-foot residence and monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment in city centers and suburbs. Calculation of the monthly mortgage payment is based on putting 20 percent down and having a 30-year fixed-rate loan. The data Bloomberg used for the calculations are self-reported and compiled by Numbeo.com as of June 30, 2017. Only cities with a minimum of 15 responses for all related metrics are included. This story was first published by Bloomberg from https://highpowerclean.com.au/is-the-rent-too-high-these-cities-make-new-york-and-australia-look-cheap-domain-news/ Sydney-based Clearlink Services is set to take its innovative approach to cleaning to new heights, launching a fleet of new machines as well as a virtual reality-based training system for cleaning staff. INCLEAN editor Claire Hibbit caught up with Clearlink managing director Fred Itaoui.Clearlink Services is dipping its toes in virtual reality (VR), with the launch of its VR-based training system for frontline cleaning staff. The online training system, currently being trialed at a handful of commercial buildings, offers basic introduction courses, or can be tailored to a specific facility. Wearing a VR headset, users are able view the building’s interior prior to entering and undertake practical tasks. The program can also be applied to a user’s smartphone or tablet. The training sessions are recorded and are able to be accessed by the employer. “At the moment there’s no data that tells an employer if the staff member has been properly inducted,” explained Clearlink founder and managing director Fred Itaoui. “With our technology, the employer is able to see when the cleaner logged on and how long they spent completing the course. “Training is lacking in the industry and it’s hard because I would say around 70 per cent are ethnic background and English is a second language. Induction courses today tick the boxes, but do staff really understand? Being able to visual the theory reduces language barriers. “Using our VR program, the cleaner is able to virtually enter a building, visit the cleaning room, pick up a trolley, vacuum – even see where they power points are. This way they’re properly trained and feel a bit more comfortable starting work in a new environment,” Itaoui said. Always on the move, Clearlink will also broaden its robotics range later this year, introducing a fleet of medium-to-large-sized scrubbers, ideal for facilities between 1500sqm and 2000sqm, as well as its first robotic car park sweeper. According to Itaoui, shopping centres and hospitals have been early adopters of autonomous clearing machines, adding his strategy is to target the building owners. “I introduced the first robotic scrubber in Australia four years ago, but the cleaning companies weren’t interested so I went to the building owners instead. They loved the concept and were willing to embrace innovation. Since then it’s always been our strategy to approach building owners first because they’re the drivers of technology.” In addition to its new products slated to be released later this year, the company is also trialing a new robotic waste solution, where waste is able to be separated at the source. The solution is currently being piloted by a handful of local city councils. “We’re looking at introducing a more robust recycling process. We’ve got technology, where instead of separating at source, we separate it at the processing centre. We sterilise the waste then we process it,” Itaoui explained. *This article was first published in the September/October edition of INCLEAN. Click here to keep reading. The post Clearlink sets sights on virtual reality appeared first on Australasia’s Cleaning Industry and Environmental Technology Magazine. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/clearlink-sets-sights-on-virtual-reality/ Thank Your Cleaner Day, an annual event held on 18 October dedicated to cleaners to show they are valued and appreciated, has been celebrated around the globe. Lillian Small CEO of the BSCNZ created the event, sponsored by Karcher, in 2015 in an effort to raise the profile of New Zealand’s $1 billion cleaning industry. “This day is a very important and exciting date in the calendar for the cleaning industry, as it encourages people to stop and think about the true value cleaning services provide,” Small said. Now in its third year, Small said BSCNZ members “went above and beyond” working with their clients to thank their cleaners. “Some also took the opportunity to spread the good will even further by partnering with charitable organisations that have significant impact in local communities. Together we are making a real difference for the industry in a positive way,” Small said. Since launching in New Zealand three years ago, the day has gained global attention, with around 10 counties participating this year – including Canada, US, UK, Spain Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Australia – which celebrated the day for the first time this year. Karcher has been the sponsor of the event since its inception. Karcher New Zealand managing director Mike Roberts said Thank Your Cleaner Day is a fantastic campaign, which the whole world is now celebrating. “This day is all about [cleaners] so thanks very much in helping make a difference with cleaning in New Zealand,” Roberts said. Kris Cannon-Schmitt, VP of marketing and communications of Karcher North America, said Karcher appreciates the millions of cleaners who tirelessly work around the clock to keep working environments clean and safe. “We’re pleased to see Thank Your Cleaner Day grow each year in our effort to recognise the hard working cleaners around the world who are oftentimes unseen but whose work is tremendously valued.” In New Zealand BSCNZ member cleaning companies showed their recognition with various events and activities including brunches and mornings teas for their cleaning staff around the country. Some of City Cleaning Services’ celebrations with its largest clients, including Auckland Transport and Unitec, were catered by Eat My Lunch, an organisation which provides lunches to kids in low decile schools. For every lunch purchased another is donated. In addition to the Eat My Lunch initiative, numerous additional local celebrations were hosted on sites around the country where City Cleaning Services staff received thank you letters and Thank Your Cleaner Day collectable dated lapel badges. Mike Mulholland, general manager HR and compliance at City Cleaning Services, said while Thank Your Cleaner Day affords an opportunity to thank deserving employees, it also encourages dialogue between cleaning businesses and their customers. “Our customers frequently do not understand the complexity of the cleaning industry or the level of investment in risk management systems that is required to deliver a safe, compliant, sustainable and ethical cleaning service,” Mulholland told INCLEAN. “It is this lack of understanding or acceptance that inevitably leads to price pressures and low margins with a predictable flow-through to the people at the sharp end.” According to Mulholland, Thank Your Cleaner Daypreparations started about two months ago for City Cleaning Services, with some high level discussions between senior management and key client contacts. “Those discussions centred on recognising our cleaning staff but also involved a wider discussion of the cleaning industry and of the efforts led by BSCNZ members to improve cleaning jobs through improved training, health and safety initiatives, employment standards compliance and positive efforts to prevent exploitative practices in an industry that has become increasingly reliant on new migrant labour. “Thank Your Cleaner Day affords an opportunity to thank our valued and deserving employees but it also encourages mature dialogue between cleaning businesses and their customers about sustainability in a wider sense, and in the end that can only be positive for our people.” National cleaning company OCS New Zealand and Air New Zealand hosted a brunch for the OCS staff that service the airport as well as Air New Zealand’s fleet of aircrafts. ![]() OCS cleaning staff were thanked by Air NZ with a morning tea in an airport hanger Other functions for OCS staff were also held at Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, Waikato University, The Warehouse Group head office, Christchurch Airport and Auckland Museum. OCS NZ managing director Gareth Marriott said the day was a great opportunity for New Zealanders to recognise and value the industry and the vital contribution to businesses and the wider community “Cleaning is one of the most important industries in the world, yet most of the people undertaking this work are invisible to most. Cleaners work day, night, and weekends to keep our clients working environments clean, safe and hygienic,” Marriott said. Kevin Obern managing director of Office Max NZ, said: “This is such a great celebration. If you’re a cleaner, you’re one of our unsung heroes. You do stuff when no-one else is there to keep our workplace clean. I think it’s fantastic that we’re celebrating [cleaners] through this wonderful initiative.” Christopher Mundschenk, executive vice president/CEO of BSCAI, said the event is about celebrating and acknowledging the vital contribution that professional cleaners make to our everyday lives. “We know that clean environments contribute significantly to the overall health and wellbeing of everyone in our communities and cities nationwide, and help generate a positive image for businesses and organisations.” The post Thank Your Cleaner Day celebrated around the world appeared first on Australasia’s Cleaning Industry and Environmental Technology Magazine. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/thank-your-cleaner-day-celebrated-around-the-world/ Pip Rose could not face a day without her little dog and companion Harvey, but accommodating him in affordable rental accommodation in Canberra has proved far from easy. Earlier this year she became unemployed and fell behind on rent and debt repayments. But her story is not unusual. At a solutions-based workshop in Canberra, expert Andrea Sharam said Ms Rose was part of the “tsunami” of middle-aged women facing housing stress and homelessness, that Australia’s governments “should have seen coming”. Dr Sharam said real solutions, like assigning housing for older women – in a scheme similar to Defence Housing – or converting old office blocks into temporary accommodation were some of the immediate measures governments could take. “It was my lowest point because I knew I just did not have the money,” Ms Rose said. “I have got to admit it was a scary place to be.” “Seriously, where can I rent in the private market? Because nobody’s going to give me a place without a job, that’s the reality.”
The 53-year-old came close to sleeping in her car on numerous occasions, because the majority of private rentals are not pet friendly — something recently changed in Victoria’s rental laws. “[Harvey] is the one that got me out of the house when I was at my really low point,” she said. “So it was going to be putting my stuff into storage and sleeping in the car with the dog and cat.” Ms Rose’s church and her brother ended up coming to her rescue by covering her debt and finding her a place to live. “I never expected it … it just blew me away,” she said. “You just don’t ask for help, that’s how I grew up. That’s us women in my generation anyway – you just take a deep breath and deal with it.” She has since found a job, but her current tenancy on her small unit expires in February. And finding another place to live is proving challenging. “That’s our biggest problem, finding affordable housing,” she said. “We need a place that we can be safe and be part of the community.” ‘It’s rough-sleeping, it’s couch surfing’Penny Leemhuis battled insecure accommodation in Victoria, the ACT and New South Wales before finding an affordable rental in Queanbeyan. The 12-year housing struggle prompted her to become an advocate for single women aged 45 and above who are relying on private rental accommodation into retirement. “If we don’t address this situation now, not only will the numbers of women escalate, this will affect every generation that is coming up in the decades to follow and it needs to stop now,” Ms Leemhuis said.
She recently shared her experiences as part of a new documentary, OWL: The Face of Homelessness, by Melbourne student Tashi Choden. “There is a great misconception amongst the general public about homelessness and what that actually entails,” Ms Leemhuis said. “It is rough-sleeping, it is couch surfing and it is insecure, untenable arrangements for accommodation.” Ms Leemhuis said there were solutions to issues surrounding homelessness that were not being implemented. “My experience has taught me that life, in some ways, is a battle and that is very sad because it doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. ‘Outcome of social change we should have seen coming’Ms Leemhuis and Ms Rose were among the women who met with support services, academics and politicians at a solutions-based workshop in Canberra last week. At the end of the meeting a handful of solutions were put forward, including creating a national social head-leasing scheme — similar to Defence Housing, converting vacant office blocks into social housing, placing transportable units on vacant land and reforming tenancy law to allow companion animals. “We have a manmade problem and we could undo that problem if we chose,” Dr Sharam said. She said older women are requiring social housing assistance into retirement and she said governments needed to reallocate existing affordable housing. “We do have a tsunami of older women,” she said.
“Our governments in Australia have been very slow to react to the decline in housing affordability, the decline in home ownership and the need for housing assistance.” Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services Zed Seselja said there was money available – $375 million over a four-year period – and that states and territories should negotiate with governments for a share in the funding. -ABC from https://highpowerclean.com.au/tsunami-of-homeless-older-women-something-we-should-have-seen-coming-the-new-daily/ But Canberra and Hobart bucked the national trend with rents increasing over the quarter by 4.2 per cent and 1 per cent respectively. By contrast Perth house rents continue to fall, down by 2.8 per cent to $350 a week and now the most affordable of all the capitals. Latest Domain data reveals that house rents in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney remained stable over the three months ending September, providing some positive news for tenants in those markets. Although most capitals recorded steady house rents over the September quarter, generally rents have increased sharply over the past year. Hobart annual rents have skyrocketed by 13.6 per cent with Canberra also up steeply by 6.3 per cent, Melbourne rising 5.0 per cent, Sydney up 3.8 per cent and also Adelaide where rents have increased by 2.9 per cent over the past year. Brisbane annual house rents have remained stable, with Darwin and Perth the clear underperformers with rents falling by 5.5 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively. Capital city unit rents were steady over the September quarter with the exception of Adelaide, which recorded an increase of 1.7 per cent. Annual unit rent results revealed a similar pattern to house rental increases with most capitals reporting sharp increases. The exceptions again were the mining capitals of Brisbane, Darwin and Perth where unit rents fell by 1.3 per cent, 5.9 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively. For investors, Hobart continues to provide the best gross rental yields with 5.29 per cent recorded over the September quarter. High-priced Sydney and Melbourne continue to report the lowest gross rental yields for houses at 3.12 per cent and 3.34 per cent respectively. Canberra is the top performer for gross rental yields for units recording 5.77 per cent over the quarter, closely followed by Darwin 5.65 per cent and Hobart 5.53 per cent. Vacancy rates remained tight in September for most capitals, indicating the prospect of continued upward pressure on rents driven by strong competition for available properties. All capitals have vacancy rates for houses and units now below 2 per cent, with the exception of Brisbane and Perth. Although capital city home rents were generally steady over the September quarter, the prospect remains for rental increases to resume sooner rather than later in most markets. Chronic shortages of rental accommodation as indicated by continuing low and falling vacancy rates are being exacerbated by the growing conversion of permanent rentals into holiday accommodation. Record recent new supply in most capitals has failed to ease shortages with the peak of the recent home building boom now having passed. Reports of new apartments remaining empty is also impeding a rebalancing between supply and demand. The unit markets of Perth, Darwin and Brisbane remain clear exceptions, with unit supply ahead of demand in those capitals and rents lower and still falling. Recent sharp declines in residential investor activity as a consequence of actions by policymakers designed to restrict lending to this group also spells bad news for tenants if it results in fewer available rental properties. And on the demand-side, high-levels of migration, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart is also a driver of higher rents. Home rents in most capitals have increased at a faster rate than incomes over the past year, which will continue to constrain already subdued economic activity through declines in discretionary spending and consumer confidence. Andrew Wilson is Domain Group chief economist. Twitter@DocAndrewWilson join on LinkedIn and Facebook at MyHousingMarket The story Canberra house and unit rents on the rise first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald. from https://highpowerclean.com.au/canberra-house-and-unit-rents-on-the-rise-north-queensland-register-blog/ |
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