The poll of 1100 voters, conducted by YouGov, shows widespread support for governments to do more to help renters, with strong backing for limits on rent increases and greater investment in public housing.
Key findings:
- Three in five voters (61%) think governments should be doing more to help renters, including three in ten (30%) who think they should be doing much more. Only one in ten (8%) voters think the government should be doing less.
- About four in five voters (78%) support some government regulation of rents, including more than half (55%) who believe rents should only be allowed to rise by inflation or less, and about one in four (23%) who support a temporary rent freeze. Less than one in five (14%) voters think there should be no limits on rent rises.
- Three in four voters (75%) agree governments should spend more money directly building public housing including one in three (35%) who strongly agree.
- Support for additional public housing is strong across voting intentions, including nine in ten (88%) Greens voters, four in five Labor (83%) and independent (82%) voters and seven in ten Coalition and One Nation voters (both 69%).
The polling research reveals that support for more assistance to renters, rent regulation and increased public housing investment extends across political party lines, generations, renters, mortgagors, and homeowners.
“For decades Australia has been told that housing is best provided by the private market and governments should get out of the way,” said Jack Thrower, Deputy Research Director at The Australia Institute.
“Governments have given away tens of billions in tax incentives for private developers, let public housing wither away and allowed the housing crisis get worse and worse.
“This year the Albanese Government made bold changes to overhaul broken tax settings to help people trying to enter the housing market. But after years of surging rents, renters continue to suffer.
“This polling shows that voters overwhelmingly back bold government interventions, directly regulating rents and spending more to actually build more public housing.”
YouGov conducted a survey of 1100 Australians eligible to vote, on behalf of The Australia Institute, between 6 and 12 October 2026, using an online polling methodology. Full details are provided in the methodology statement. The poll is compliant with the Australian Polling Council’s requirements.
