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Australian Prime Minister John Howard has signalled some relief may be at hand for families feeling the pinch in competitive rental markets.
Many people who have already been locked out of the housing market are now struggling to put any roof over their heads as rental prices soar.
Rental vacancy rates have dropped from a long-term average of about 2.9 per cent down to 1.8 per cent in most cities, and as low as one per cent in Adelaide and 1.5 per cent in Sydney.
In some cases, would-be renters are being forced to bid against each other in rental "auctions" as landlords take advantage of skyrocketing prices.
The government offered some comfort to renters today by revealing it was considering rental assistance.
"I am conscious that rents have gone up, in different parts of the country," Mr Howard told journalists in Perth.
"I am aware of that, and I know there is some additional pressure because of the very strong economic conditions.
"Other people have put views to me about rental assistance ... we are considering those things, I am not going to say any more."
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said the federal government should be looking at other ways to take financial pressures off families, including providing affordable, adequate child care.
- AAP
