More Australian children are growing up in private rental housing and facing housing insecurity, according to a new report released on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. The study, conducted by researchers Amy Clair, Emma Baker, Lynne Giles, and Claire Morey at Adelaide University and published by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, analyzed long-term datasets including the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

The report found that between 2001 and 2023, as housing prices surged, the proportion of households with children living in homes owned outright dropped by 52%, social rentals fell by 46% amid stagnation in public housing, while those owning with a mortgage increased by 27%, and private rentals rose by 20%.

Research lead Associate Professor Amy Clair highlighted that children in private rental properties move approximately every 2.3 years on average. "By age 14, a child in a private rental had moved an average of six times. By comparison, those in households that owned their home had moved a little over twice on average, and children in social housing had moved just over four times," she said.

The study also noted that few households with children rent by choice: only 7% preferred renting, and 8% valued its flexibility. More than half lacked a housing deposit, and around half could not afford to buy. Additionally, about 18% of households with children in private rentals were late on housing payments, compared to 7% of mortgage holders. Overcrowding affected roughly 10% of children in private rentals, more than double the rate for those in owner-occupied homes.

Dr Clair emphasized the need for better data on children's housing experiences, stating, "Children's experiences were often ignored in the public discussion of housing affordability, partly through a lack of data about their housing status, and better information could help foster the housing conditions that allow children to thrive."

The report warns that increased housing instability could have long-term effects on children's development, physical health, and mental wellbeing. However, fragmented data in Australia creates challenges for early intervention and effective policy-making.

Sources