Queensland is the state with the highest proportion of its population who are over 55 and renting, according to Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) analysis of the latest ABS Census data.

More than 172,275 Queenslanders are over 55 and renting.

The analysis, conducted ahead of today’s Queensland Housing Summit, also shows that Queensland is the state with the highest proportion of people older than 55 who are still renting – 13.1%, well ahead of second-placed New South Wales at 11.2%.

Four of the five Local Government Areas with the most over 55s in private rentals are in Queensland – Brisbane (33,988), Gold Coast (25,094), Moreton May (17,815), and Sunshine Coast (12,228).

The figures show just how important it is for housing outcomes for older people, and particularly older women, to be on the agenda at the Summit, HAAG Executive Officer Fiona York says.

“With fewer rentals coming on the market, and rents sky rocketing, it’s tougher than ever for older people in Queensland to find and keep an affordable rental,” York says.
“It’s a situation that’s placing more and more older people in housing stress and at risk of homelessness.”

Older women are particularly vulnerable – the Queensland Government has listened to their concerns and responded by funding delivery of the Housing Older Women Support Service (HOWSS) by Footprints Community. HAAG runs a similar service in Victoria and is working with Footprints to support the launch of HOWSS in Queensland. The service, which went live this month, comes at an important time. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of women over 55 presenting to homelessness services in Queensland has increased by 65% over the last decade.

While it’s a step in the right direction, York says the work is by no means done, and HAAG is calling for the Queensland Government to continue to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, improve tenancy laws to provide better protection for older renters.

“We commend the Queensland Government for listening to women and organisations like the Housing Older Women’s Movement and QShelter and taking steps to address homelessness among older women,” York says.

“It’s investment in social housing is much needed. But the scale of the challenge is enormous. And Government’s must continue to invest to increase the supply of social housing, and ensure that it gets into the hands of the older people who need it.”

Source: ABS Census. Note, not all tenure types have not been included in the table above.