According to property website Domain there are currently only 167 properties available for rent in Orange. Last week it was only 158.

Century 21 Combined Orange real estate director Andrew Vogler said a house in Booth Street currently available for rent had 10 prospective groups of renters inspect it in one day last week.

"We've got less properties available for rent. At the moment it is probably slim pickings," he said.

"Traditionally winter is a quiet time."

Mr Vogler said an increase in the number of houses being used for short-term stays through Airbnb had reduced the availability of properties for renting.

He said the situation was hardest for people who did not have a good rental record.

"I think it does mean there can be more competition [for rentals]," he said.

"You can have your pick of the tenants here."

He said it was important for people to make sure they paid their rent on time.

"But people who have a good rental record shouldn't stress," he said.

Gary Blowes, the principal of Blowes Real Estate, said winter was a time of year when there were fewer properties available for rent in Orange.

"A lot of people don't want to move at this time of year," he said.

Mr Blowes said most of the rental properties his firm managed were already let.

He said people without good rental records could talk to rental managers about how they could benefit.

"Most rental managers will explain it to them," he said.

Orange has the highest average price of rents of cities in the Central West.

The latest Domain rental report from March this year found the median rental price for a house was $375 a week and $265 for a unit.

The house price was up 7.1 per cent on the same period a year ago when the median rent was $350 a week.

It was also up 13.6 per cent on five years ago when the median rent in Orange was $330.

In Bathurst the median rent for a house is $360 and in Dubbo it is $340.

Mr Blowes said some people who are renting are now in a better position to buy a home thanks to government assistance.

"If you're paying $400 or $500 a week in rent that money could be used to pay a mortgage," he said.