A report on Hobart’s housing supply issues by University of Tasmania academics has found new housing supply has declined over the past five years while the capital city’s population growth accelerated.
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The report found housing completions declined by 24 per cent statewide, and while the building and construction workforce has been growing since February 2014, growth was slow.
The report’s authors pointed to significant increases in whole property short-stay accommodation listings in the state, particularly in Hobart’s local government area.
From July 2016 to last February, total statewide listings for Airbnb grew from 1827 to 4459 – a growth of 144 per cent.
Of the statewide listings, 44 per cent were based in greater Hobart.
There was a rise in the price-per-night of Hobart short-term accommodation properties from $152 to $212 over the same period.
Hobart house rentals were up 15.8 per cent over the 12 months to March.
The five mainland state capitals had an average rise of 3.6 per cent.
The report concluded there was a need for 1300 more properties in greater Hobart to restore 2016 market conditions and 1200 more properties each year, assuming population growth would rise by one-per-cent per annum.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Parliament needed to agree to pause short-term accommodation permits listed in the greater Hobart area to allow time for housing bodies to develop a new approach to the market.
Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
