Housing in Victoria, Australia facts for kids

Housing typical of that found across much of Victoria.

Housing in the state of Victoria, Australia is characterised by high rates of private housing ownership, minimal and lack of public housing and high demand for, and largely unaffordable, rental housing. Outside of Melbourne, home to 70% of the state's population, housing and rent is more affordable. In Melbourne, access to public housing is generally better, but housing and rent are less affordable.

Public housing in Victoria is usually provided by departments of the Victorian state government and operates within the framework of the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, by which funding for public housing is provided by both federal and state governments.

At present, Victoria and Melbourne are experiencing high population growth, generating high demand for housing. This has created a housing boom, pushing housing prices up and having an effect on rental prices as well as availability of all types of housing.

Rental housing

Rental housing in Victoria is currently in high demand under pressure from high population growth. As a result, rental housing can be difficult to obtain, particularly affordable rental housing. Prospective tenants often offer to pay more rent, several months rent up front and other incentives to landlords to secure housing. There is currently little or no rent control implemented in Victoria.

History

Victoria's housing history is heavily characterised by the transportation methods in widespread use at the time of housing construction. Inner areas of Melbourne and some regional towns, developed during the late 19th century, enjoy good access to public transport, trains, trams, buses and cycling infrastructure. In contrast, suburban and outer areas of Melbourne and regional towns, developed during the 20th century, suffer from auto-centric urban forms with poor or no access to public transport.

This infrastructure has dictated many elements of housing in Victoria; from private housing prices, rent, general affordability, quality, gentrification and availability of housing, generally increasing where amenity and public transport is best served. Many affluent and gentrified areas have good access to amenity and public transport, while suburban and outer areas are generally cheaper and have poor or no access to good quality amenity and infrastructure.

Housing types

Victorian terrace housing, common in inner city areas of Melbourne and some regional towns

Housing types in Victoria are dominated by single or double-storey detached suburban dwellings, most of which include living spaces such as a family/living room, dining room, etc., a garage, front and/or back yard and a driveway.

In inner Melbourne and some inner areas of regional towns, most housing types are of a low to low-medium density terrace style of varying sizes and levels depending on the historical affluence or lack thereof of the area.

In inner Melbourne and some other areas, high density housing is also present. Shoebox style blocks of flats constructed in the 1960s and 1970s are extremely common throughout the older, inner city suburbs of Melbourne. Many of these are in the Dingbat style. A majority of larger apartment buildings were constructed in Melbourne through the 1990s and 2000s.

Welfare and support

There are a few support and welfare systems available to those living in housing in Victoria, these include access to institutions such as Tenants Unions, government authorities such as the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and welfare such as 'Rent Assistance' distributed through Centrelink.

Images for kids

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  A public housing high rise in Collingwood, Melbourne