A seasonal decline in tenant interest before Christmas pushed vacancy rates higher at the end of 2010.
SQM Research reports national vacancy rates of 2.2% for the final month of 2010, 0.5% up on the month of November and 0.2% higher than December 2009.
The figures still suggest a tight rental market across Australia, according to SQM. However, some individual markets have a higher vacancy rates, such as Melbourne (3.6%), where there is an "ample" supply of rental property.
SQM’s calculations are based on online rental listings that have been advertised for three weeks or more compared to the total number of established rental properties.
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