An important new Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Policy Brief on Renting into retirement, launched at National Shelter’s ‘Housing at the Edge’ event in Canberra in May 2026. National Shelter partnered with AHURI on this important work, which shines a clear light on one of the most pressing and sometimes overlooked shifts in Australia’s housing system.
The headline is stark: By 2031, an estimated 440,000 older households will be unable to find or afford suitable housing.
For a system built on the assumption that most people retire as homeowners, this represents a fundamental structural reset. We are already seeing the impacts:
- More older Australians renting, often on low incomes
- Growing reliance on Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA), projected to increase by 60% for people aged 55+ by 2031
- Rising exposure to insecure leases, high rents, and unsuitable homes
This is not a marginal issue. It is a defining policy challenge for the next decade. The brief points to practical solutions:
- Significant expansion of social housing supply — at least 200,000 additional homes
- Reform of retirement income settings to better support renters, not just homeowners
- Investment in secure, long-term rental options for older Australians
- Support for new models like build-to-rent, shared equity, and cooperative housing
- Better, more accessible housing advice and navigation systems
At its core, this is about recognising that Australia is now a dual-tenure society, and policy, investment, regulation and support systems must catch up.
The conversations at Housing at the Edge reinforced a shared understanding across the sector and government:
- We can no longer design housing systems based on assumptions that no longer reflect reality
- There are clear innovations and pathways available — with the political will and structural reform needed to scale them to meet demand
- We must act now to prevent a significant rise in housing insecurity in later life.
ACT Shelter and National Shelter will continue to work with AHURI, governments, the public and private sectors, to facilitate discussions and present evidence to inform the reforms needed. We welcome your input on how we can build a housing system that delivers stability, dignity, and security in retirement.