Investors need to have say to help fix crisis in housing

With the launch of a new campaign aimed at bringing a balanced discussion to the housing crisis, the REINSW wants to make sure policy-makers hear your views too.
The Rent Crisis Action campaign calls on property managers and residential property investors to provide their views on the housing crisis and, specifically, the impact of policies and legislation – whether existing or proposed – which affect the availability of rental supply.
REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin said the campaign was about bringing balance to the issue so that the Government and Opposition could form an appropriate long-term view to address the crisis.
He said that the tenant perspective was well represented in the public domain, as it should be, however, a healthy market was a balanced market, and that required balance in enabling the views of all stakeholders to be heard.
“Everyone recognises the lack of rental accommodation is at crisis point. The potential consequences for people at risk, and who can’t find a home, are tragic,” Mr McKibbin said.
“Yet to date, the solutions presented to the community to apparently address the shortage are driving the very people who provide homes to rent from the market.”
Mr McKibbin said investing in residential property was increasingly a less attractive prospect.
“It’s a simple premise which is being ignored. If you need more homes for people to rent, you don’t disincentivise people from providing those homes,” he said.
“It’s important to remember not everyone is in a position to buy a home. For many people, renting is either preferred or necessary. But they need choice.
“If investing in residential property becomes less attractive, those people will have fewer choices than they have now.”
Property managers and investors can complete the survey at rentcrisisaction.reinsw.com.au.