Experts want councils to push landlords to make vacant or holiday homes available for renters.

In an address to the National Rural Press Club (NRPC) on Tuesday, the Chief Executive of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, Anna Neelagama, issued a rallying call to councils across the country, urging them to take action and make more properties available to renters. 

Neelagama highlighted the allocation of $60 million for the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement and proposed utilising small sums of this funding to contact all ratepayers in Australia through Local Government Areas (LGAs) to encourage the return of vacant or underutilised homes into the permanent rental pool.

“The solution to this problem is actually quite simple. We already know, for the most part, what needs to be done. We have two key objectives: better utilisation of existing homes and increased construction of new homes,” Neelagama said.

Neelagama also stressed the importance of conducting an occupancy audit of housing and land owned by local, state, and federal governments. 

She pointed out the unfortunate reality of police houses and teachers' houses sitting empty, as well as state-owned land being left undeveloped. 

This situation, she argued, was unacceptable and could be addressed with minimal financial investment.

Joining the NRPC panel, independent MP Helen Haines, representing the regional Victorian electorate of Indi, emphasised the need for increased funding in critical infrastructure to facilitate housing development in regional areas. 

Haines highlighted the pressing issues faced by communities like Wangaratta and Benalla, where crucial infrastructure, including sewage and drainage systems, requires urgent attention. 

However, Haines also acknowledged that small rural councils with limited ratepayer bases lacked the financial means to undertake such significant investments, exacerbating the supply crisis.

Drawing inspiration from Victoria's post-war housing program called Operation Snail, which produced 40 pre-fabricated homes per week, Haines called for innovative thinking. 

“It's not about moving at a snail's pace; it's about carrying the materials on our backs,” she said. 

Ms Neelagama also emphasised the importance of exploring alternative models. 

She advocated for highly targeted programs in regions with the greatest potential for economic growth, aiming to expedite the construction of homes for essential workers through prefabricated and modular housing.