Rent increases by almost 50 per cent in Kimberley town as housing crisis deepens in Western Australia

Rent in Kununurra has risen sharply in the past 12 months. (ABC Kimberley: Ted O'Connor)

The weekly rental price in a West Australian town has increased by almost 50 per cent in 12 months as the housing crisis continues to worsen.

In recent years the towns of Broome and Kununurra have witnessed substantial shortages in housing stock and increasing rents and some families have been forced to leave to avoid homelessness.