Even where the population isn't booming, houses are in short supply

Tasmania faces a housing shortage despite having the slowest population growth in Australia at just 0.5 percent annually. Rental vacancy rates of 0.6-0.8 percent indicate acute undersupply, with 5,507 households waiting for public housing and average waits exceeding 89 weeks. The mismatch stems from vacant properties, short-stay rentals, and changing household sizes rather than insufficient total homes.

Summary by OZbrief Editorial · ABC News – Australia · Source