Plans to cap international student numbers from 2025 are unlikely to provide much relief for Australia’s rental market, according to new research by Mandala Research for the Property Council of Australia (PCA).
The findings reveal that while the policy may have some impact in areas with a high concentration of students, rental reductions will be minimal—averaging just 0.8%, or $5 per week. For those hoping this measure will alleviate widespread rental pressures, the results are disappointing.
Torie Brown, Executive Director of the PCA’s Student Accommodation Council, argues that addressing the housing crisis requires a broader approach. “The student visa caps will have a very real economic impact but have very little impact on rental availability,” she says.
Instead of reducing migration, Brown advocates for increasing the supply of purpose-built student accommodation and tackling the full range of factors driving rent increases and housing shortages.
Her comments align with findings from the Australian Housing Conditions Dataset, which shows nearly 50% of renters believe they’ll never be able to afford their own home—a stark reflection of current market conditions.
