Vacancy rates for private non-landed homes may reach 9.6 per cent by the end of this year, up 1.8 per cent from 7.8 per cent at the end of 2014. Since the beginning of 2013, rental rates have continually fallen on a monthly basis, with the exception of January this year. Property experts are expecting a further fall in rental prices in these next couple of years.
Property agents have also noticed that tenants are now signing shorter leases of 12 months as opposed to the usual 24 months. Tenants may be on the constant lookout for better deals are may change units more frequently. The number of new private homes have risen exponentially, especially as previously sold units reach completion and are readying themselves for occupation this and next year. This year alone, 21, 800 new units will be completed. That is almost 84 per cent higher than the 11,865 units in the last five years combined.
On the brighter side of things, the volume of rental transactions may remain steady as the tenant pool seems to stay constant albeit an increased likelihood of tenants making their rounds in the rental market. That may also mean a higher number of new leases being signed.
As long as the tenant pool remains the same, and the supply of new private homes continues to rise, the pressure on housing rental prices and eventually sale prices is here to stay.
