The Gold Coast rental market continues to reflect the broader pressure being felt across Australia, with strong tenant demand, limited available rental supply and ongoing affordability challenges remaining key themes. According to Cotality Rental Review - Q1 2026, national dwelling rents increased 2.1% over the March quarter, with annual rental growth lifting to 5.7%. Cotality also reported that Australian renters are now spending a record 33.1% of gross median household income on rent, highlighting the continued pressure on households and the importance of well-managed rental investments.
For landlords, these conditions reinforce the importance of proactive property management, accurate pricing and strong tenant retention strategies. Cotality Rental Review - Q1 2026 noted that rental listings nationally remain around 18% below the five-year average, while every capital city recorded a vacancy rate below 2.0% in the March quarter. Brisbane recorded annual rental growth of 6.7%, reflecting the strength of the wider South East Queensland rental market and the continued demand for quality housing.
Locally, the Gold Coast remains a highly competitive rental market, with lifestyle demand, population movement and limited housing supply continuing to support rental conditions. While rental growth is positive for investors, it also makes professional management more important than ever — from reviewing rent in line with current market evidence, to ensuring properties remain compliant, well maintained and positioned to attract quality tenants.
At LJ Hooker Nerang and LJ Hooker Solutions Gold Coast, our property management team continues to monitor market movements closely and use current data to help our landlords make informed decisions. If you would like an updated rental appraisal or would like to discuss how your investment property is performing in today’s market, our team would be happy to assist.
Source: Cotality