Australians are furious after discovering why townhouse rents will soon rise by as much as 86 percent.
The three-bedroom townhouse on Radiant Street in Taigum, Brisbane’s north, was listed on realestate.com for $348 a week.
But rent will rise to $650 a week on September 8, when the property will no longer be eligible for support under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).
The NRAS was implemented in 2008 as part of the federal government’s long-term commitment to improving housing affordability.
The Rudd-era program paid property owners a subsidy in return for keeping new home rental prices below market for 10 years, but the scheme is now set to expire.
A townhouse in Taigum was on the market for $348 a week, but rents will rise by 86 per cent on September 8, when the property will no longer qualify for NRAS benefits
With the last homes leaving the scheme in mid-2026, tenants fear skyrocketing rents will skyrocket and pressure on living costs will only worsen the housing crisis.
A photo of the home was shared on
Many social media users joined in, saying the program was “life-changing.”
“I reported on NRAS in 2010 when I was at Leader Newspapers and it was a great plan,” said former journalist Emily Webb.
“About ten years ago, when I went back to college and my partner was unemployed for quite some time, NRAS helped change our lives,” wrote another.
“NRAS made me live alone in an apartment for seven years,” said a third person.
The house has a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher
The home in Taigum has two bathrooms, two parking spaces, an open living room, a spacious backyard, a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher and two air conditioners.
“The property is in a secure complex surrounded by landscaped gardens, CCTV security and friendly on-site managers,” the advert reads.
‘The complex is located in a very popular location, within walking distance of schools, childcare, shopping centre, recreational parks and public transport.’
A Westfield shopping center and the beach are also a 10-minute drive away.
But social media users are slamming the drastic rent increase, claiming it is “appalling” and “highlights the failures of capitalism.”
‘NRAS rescued me and got me my apartment, but then the program was stopped. Now I have a 30% rent increase but there is no cheaper place to go,” said one.
“It’s ridiculous that NRAS is closing, especially when so many people need it,” wrote another.
“I know it wasn’t a perfect plan but I’m so furious it’s ending,” a third person commented.
The property is currently accepting applications from tenants who qualify for the NRAS.
The NRAS eligibility test can be found on government websites and asks questions including whether the applicant owns any property, the amount of their household liquid assets and their combined gross annual income.
Crane Realty Onsite Manager Prue Xiong said the property will reach its full 10-year term as an NRAS property on September 7 and will no longer be eligible for NRAS benefits.
“As a result, we have to increase the rent,” she told Daily Mail Australia.