Rent in Australian capital cities climbs record 11.7% in 12 months

Apartments in the Homebush area of Sydney, which remains the country’s most expensive capital to rent in with the average tenant paying $711 a week, up 1.3% in the past month and up 13.1% for the year. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Renters in Australian capital cities have suffered the highest increase for a 12-month period since records began in 2007 as the nation’s housing crisis shows no sign of slowing down.

The combined capitals’ rental rate increased 11.7% over the past year, far above the average increase of 3.5%.