Australia’s rental boom is trapping children in unstable homes

A new research paper shows a 20% rise this century in Australian children growing up in rental households, with those children averaging six moves by age 14. That level of churn is more than a statistic: frequent moves damage continuity at school, disrupt friendships and make it harder for families to plan. This piece would examine why more families are renting for longer, how policy and the market have shifted housing risk onto children, and what realistic reforms — from stronger renter protections to targeted social housing — would reduce the harm.