Australians look to share housing in hunt for housing relief

Map 1. Shared  housing  demand  by  suburbs Source:  Flatmates  people's  listings  Aug  2020 Low-income earners and others facing housing market barriers have long sought to save costs by sharing. According to a new study by researchers in the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design and Planning, shared housing has now become the default 'release valve' in the current housing market, in the absence of secure and affordable alternatives. Key Findings:. ·       4 percent  of  Sydney's  households  are  classified  as  'group'  (unrelated  adults  living  together),  rising  to  10.8 percent  in  inner  Sydney. A quarter  of  those  seeking  share  accommodation  indicated  a  rental  budget  of  up  to  $200  per  week. Less  than  5 percent  of  share  vacancies  were  affordable  for  those  in  the  lowest  income  quintile, highlighting while sharing provides a lower cost option, it is not necessarily affordable for very low-income earners.