ROOT
Sydney’s vacancy rates continue to rise
Sydney’s vacancy rates continue to rise overall, but the middle ring is outperforming the rest of the city, new research has revealed.
Sydney’s vacancy rates continue to rise
Sydney’s vacancy rates continue to rise overall, but the middle ring is outperforming the rest of the city, new research has revealed.

Data released by the REINSW shows Sydney vacancies rose by 0.3 per cent overall last month and are now sitting at 3.6 per cent.
REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin said the rise in vacancy rates was expected, as families made decisions to move ahead of the start of a new school year.
“Yes, this is a slight increase for the month, but nothing too unusual for this time of year when seasonal fluctuations inevitably play a role in the residential rental market,” Mr McKibbin said.
Vacancy rates at Sydney’s inner ring increased to 4.8 per cent, a rise of 0.4 per cent, while the outer ring vacancy rates rose by 0.7 per cent to 2.5 per cent.

However, bucking the Sydney trend, the middle ring dropped, which saw a drop in rental vacancies falling to 0.5 per cent to be 4.2 per cent for the most.
Outside Sydney, vacancy rates tightened in both the Hunter and Illawarra regions, dropping by 0.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively.
“Demand for rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply in these areas, as tenants seize the opportunity to leave Sydney and secure a rental property more suited to both their budget and desired lifestyle,” Mr McKibbin said.
The REINSW stated that vacancies across much of regional NSW remain extremely tight.
Areas have eased slightly. However, the results show that stock remains tight across all non-metropolitan areas.
“From the earliest stages of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw tenants relinquishing their properties in favour of more affordable options in suburbs more distant from the popular metro hubs and, in fact, even further afield into regional areas.”
“This trend shows no sign of abating.
“What’s clear is that COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on the residential rental market across New South Wales, and this is something that’s unlikely to change in the coming months,” Mr McKibbin concluded.
About the author

About the author


Earn
Unlocking success: How tiny habits can make or break your career trajectory
Career plateaus rarely begin with a market shock; they start with tiny, repeated choices—avoiding change, outsourcing the hard calls, neglecting pipeline hygiene. In a market where distribution, data ...Read more

Earn
Unlock your potential by transforming hidden habits into success
Self-sabotage isn’t a character flaw — it’s an operating model failure. As pressure, complexity and AI-driven change intensify, the cost of avoidable behaviours (avoidance, over-delegation, context ...Read more

Earn
Australian labour market shows signs of strain amid global economic shifts
In the latest economic data release, Australia's labour market is exhibiting signs of strain, despite maintaining a relatively low unemployment rate. According to Krishna Bhimavarapu, APAC Economist ...Read more

Earn
Australia’s entrepreneur boom: August 2025 breaks records with over 100,000 new ABNs
Australia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurship, with the latest figures revealing a record-breaking number of new business registrations in August 2025. According to the newly ...Read more

Earn
Beyond the cash rate: How affordability reshaped Australia’s property playbook in 2025
Australian buyers are less fixated on interest rates and more constrained by affordability, a pivot that is quietly rewriting strategies for banks, developers and institutional investorsRead more

Earn
Australia’s rate cut revealed: What it means for property, profits and the months ahead
The RBA’s 25-basis-point cut to 3.6% extends the easing cycle and resets the calculus for households, lenders and property operators. Expect a faster spring selling season and a sharper rate war, but ...Read more

Earn
Beyond the sticker price: decoding a property’s real value in a volatile market
As prices in several Australian cities keep defying slower growth and higher rates, the question isn’t what a property costs—it’s what it’s truly worth. Value today is a stack: cash flows, replacement ...Read more

Earn
Cohorts, credits and competition: decoding Australia’s retirement reform consultation
Can a $3.9 trillion super system finally crack the ‘last mile’ of retirement? Canberra’s consultation on cohort-based retirement solutions aims to move beyond accumulation-era thinking, with ...Read more

Earn
Unlocking success: How tiny habits can make or break your career trajectory
Career plateaus rarely begin with a market shock; they start with tiny, repeated choices—avoiding change, outsourcing the hard calls, neglecting pipeline hygiene. In a market where distribution, data ...Read more

Earn
Unlock your potential by transforming hidden habits into success
Self-sabotage isn’t a character flaw — it’s an operating model failure. As pressure, complexity and AI-driven change intensify, the cost of avoidable behaviours (avoidance, over-delegation, context ...Read more

Earn
Australian labour market shows signs of strain amid global economic shifts
In the latest economic data release, Australia's labour market is exhibiting signs of strain, despite maintaining a relatively low unemployment rate. According to Krishna Bhimavarapu, APAC Economist ...Read more

Earn
Australia’s entrepreneur boom: August 2025 breaks records with over 100,000 new ABNs
Australia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurship, with the latest figures revealing a record-breaking number of new business registrations in August 2025. According to the newly ...Read more

Earn
Beyond the cash rate: How affordability reshaped Australia’s property playbook in 2025
Australian buyers are less fixated on interest rates and more constrained by affordability, a pivot that is quietly rewriting strategies for banks, developers and institutional investorsRead more

Earn
Australia’s rate cut revealed: What it means for property, profits and the months ahead
The RBA’s 25-basis-point cut to 3.6% extends the easing cycle and resets the calculus for households, lenders and property operators. Expect a faster spring selling season and a sharper rate war, but ...Read more

Earn
Beyond the sticker price: decoding a property’s real value in a volatile market
As prices in several Australian cities keep defying slower growth and higher rates, the question isn’t what a property costs—it’s what it’s truly worth. Value today is a stack: cash flows, replacement ...Read more

Earn
Cohorts, credits and competition: decoding Australia’s retirement reform consultation
Can a $3.9 trillion super system finally crack the ‘last mile’ of retirement? Canberra’s consultation on cohort-based retirement solutions aims to move beyond accumulation-era thinking, with ...Read more