Rental prices have surged by more than 23 per cent for both houses and units in Orange in the past 12 months.
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The new figures are prompting concerns of an increasing risk of homelessness and housing stress at the lower end of the market.
According to SQM Research, there has been a 23.5 per cent increase in rents for houses in Orange over the last 12 months with a 23.8 per cent increase in the rents for units over the same period.
Comparatively, data released by Corelogic this week revealed a nation-wide rent increase of 6.6 per cent and in regional Australia that rise was 11.3 per cent.
"Orange is one of the communities that's been really hard hit by people moving out of the city and putting pressure on the local rental market and more and more people are being left [behind]," Ms Colvin said.
"While rents have increased across the board, wages and welfare payments have not kept up, putting even more pressure on Australians already struggling to access stable housing."
She said the wage price index showed a 1.5 per cent increase for the March quarter, while the Jobseeker payment was increased by just $25 a week in February.
Peter Fisher Real Estate director Hunter Ridley said the rise in rental prices coincided with low vacancy rates and high demand but the prices have stabilised since a rapid rise last year.
"I don't think rents are going up any more but they are still historically very high," Mr Ridley said.
"I expect later in the year, and in the next year, more investment properties will get built, it's a little way off.
Mr Ridley said investors, as well as home buyers, have been purchasing house and land packages, as well as existing dwellings.
"The investors are still buying rental properties in Orange, there's no shortage of people wanting to invest in Orange," he said.
Orange is one of the communities that's been really hard hit by people moving out of the city and putting pressure on the local rental market and more and more people are being left [behind].
- Kate Colvin
"Hopefully that will continue and ease the vacancy a little bit so people can get something to rent, it's been hard at the lower end of the market."
Mr Ridley said the agency is continuing to get a lot of inquiries from people looking for something neat and tidy, low-maintenance, and relatively new.
However, he said the weekly rental cost for a neat and tidy three-bedroom house was in the mid $400s.
"When we get something that's affordable to rent we get a huge amount of inquiries," he said.
He said among the high number of people seeking rental accommodation were professionals and with each property going to those with the best credentials, some people are continuing to miss out depending on their circumstances. "We've always got people waiting," he said.
He said part of the problem is due to the high number of contract workers in the area.
"I feel that while we've got a huge cohort of people working in Orange that need furnished accommodation that's taking a fair bit out of the normal rental market," Mr Ridley said.
He said Airbnb style accommodation has also taken properties out of the housing market.
According to Domain the median weekly rental price for houses in Orange is $350 for two bedrooms; $400 for three bedrooms or $480 for four bedrooms.
The median weekly rental for units is $290 for one bedroom, or $300 for two bedrooms.
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