The Consumers and COVID-19: from crisis to recovery report by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) has found finds higher levels of financial stress among renters when compared to households with a mortgage. 

The results show 75% of renters are concerned about their financial wellbeing compared to 64% of mortgage holders.

Meanwhile, nearly half (49%) of renters expressed concerns about housing costs compared to nearly a third (31%) of mortgage holders. 

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest variable interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Update resultsUpdate
LenderHome LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Repayment type Rate Type Offset Redraw Ongoing Fees Upfront Fees LVR Lump Sum Repayment Additional Repayments Split Loan Option TagsFeaturesLinkCompare
6.04% p.a.
6.06% p.a.
$2,408
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
90%
Featured 4.6 Star Customer Ratings
  • No monthly or ongoing fees
  • Unlimited free redraw
  • No application fee
5.99% p.a.
5.90% p.a.
$2,396
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
Featured Apply In Minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
6.09% p.a.
6.11% p.a.
$2,421
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$250
60%
Featured Unlimited Redraws
  • No annual fees - None!
  • Get fast pre-approval
  • Unlimited additional repayments free of charge
  • Redraw freely - Access your additional payments when you need them
  • Home loan specialists available today
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

According to CPRC, this exposes "deep cracks" in the Australian housing market. 

"In addition to the disproportionately high financial stress burdening renters, they have also not had the same freedom as homeowners to make their living arrangements more manageable under COVID-19 restrictions," the report said. 

"Adjustments such as renovating a space to make room for parents and children working from home, or welcoming a pet are privileges not afforded to most Australian renters.

"As governments turn efforts towards rebuilding our economy, a sustained focus on the things that will improve the wellbeing, trust and confidence of all Australian consumers needs to be front and centre.

"A home is a home, no matter whether you’re paying a mortgage, or the rent."

Who was more concerned about household bills? 

CPRC's report shows renters had higher levels of concern when it comes to household bills like energy, groceries and credit card bills. 

In total, 47% of renters were concerned about energy bills compared to 29% of homeowners, while the rate of concerns about groceries among renters was nearly double the rate for mortgage holders.    

Renters

Mortgage holders 

Concerns about energy bills

47%

29%

Concerns about groceries

40%

20%

Concerns about credit card bills

39%

29%

Source: CPRC

[Read: Rising energy costs a major concern for 96% of Australian households]

Who missed more repayments: Renters or homeowners? 

Renters again missed a greater proportion of payments across a variety of different sectors due to COVID-19, such as housing, credit, energy and telco. 

As many as 7% of renters missed some rent repayments, while 2% of mortgage holders missed mortgage repayments. 

While most banks offered customers mortgage deferrals for six months or more, renters were only offered an eviction moratorium, and still had to negotiate with their landlords for rent reductions

According to a survey by Better Renting, most who asked for a rent reduction were unsuccessful. 

Renters

Mortgage holders 

Missed housing repayments

7%

2%

Missed credit repayments

10%

3%

Missed energy repayments

9%

3%

Missed telco repayments 

7%

1%

Source: CPRC

CPRC's report supports this, with only 2% of renters saying they were offered payment assistance by their landlord, while 5% of mortgage holders were helped by their bank. 

A higher proportion of renters (16%) "had a negative experience when reaching out for payment assistance" with housing costs, compared to 9% of homeowners. 

Renters more likely to take on more credit during COVID-19

With renters having higher levels of concern about repaying credit compared to homeowners (39% vs 29%), it makes sense that renters also turned to credit and buy now, pay later (BNPL) more than their mortgage holder counterparts. 

According to the results, 37% of renters took on credit or buy now, pay later compared to 26% of homeowners, just to manage basic household expenses. 

Payday loans meanwhile were used by 4% of renters, and 0% of homeowners. 

Renters

Mortgage holders 

Took on credit cards/BNPL

37%

26%

Took on payday loans 

4%

0%

Source: CPRC

Renters dip into their savings, super more 

A sizeable 44% of renters and 28% of homeowners were forced to dip into their savings during the pandemic, while 15% of renters were forced to borrow money from family or friends compared to just 2% of homeowners.

Just under 20% of renters withdrew from their superannuation using the government's early super access scheme, which has now seen more than $33 billion withdrawn across the country

Only 8% of homeowners had to dip into their retirement fund. 

[Read: How to catch up if you've withdrawn your super early]

Renters

Mortgage holders 

Dipped into savings to meet ends meet

44%

28%

Accessed super early 

19%

8%

Borrowed money from family or friends 

15%

2%





Ready, Set, Buy!


Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!

With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy