Australian renters face surging costs after end of national affordability scheme

Tenants advocates say there has been a lot of frustration in the housing sector around the future fund debates this week. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Ruth Johnson was afraid her rent would surge when it was no longer covered by a federal government subsidy program. She was right.

For three years, Johnson was one of 32,000 renters benefiting from the National Affordability Rental Scheme (NRAS), a Rudd-era program that paid property owners a subsidy in exchange for them keeping rents on new homes below market rate for a decade.