Bendigo rental availability may ease for tenants as housing developments are built

But a housing advocate says the issue with the market is affordability, not availability.

PRDnationwide Bendigo department manager Eboni Budde said the market was strong for landlords but it was a tough time for tenants looking for somewhere to live.

Read more: Support agencies seek jump in households seeking help with rent

But Miss Budde said there may be more housing stock coming on the market in the next few months, as several developments are completed.

The past 12 months have been the busiest in Bendigo Miss Budde has seen for in five years, with 10 to 20 people were booked in for most rental inspections.

Homes under $300 per week were most in demand at PRD, Miss Budde said. Properties priced at $300 to $350 per week also attracted lots of people to inspections.

Family homes were getting the most attention, but PRD was also getting applications for units.

Miss Budde said the market had picked up ever since the new hospital was finished, with most people looking for housing have relocated to Bendigo for work.

"There doesn't seem to be any less properties available for rent, it's just that there's more people who need them," Miss Budde said.

"It's a combination of new infrastructure, new people moving to Bendigo for jobs and schools and things."

Read more: 'It's certainly a challenge': Affordable rentals scarce

Housing Justice manager Kirsty Waller said the lack of affordable rental properties was the issue with the Bendigo rental market.

She said the price was unreachable for those on low incomes.

"There's nearly 300 properties available [in Bendigo], but there's only four of them that would be affordable for someone on a Newstart allowance. And that's pretty grim," Ms Waller said.

"The majority of the rental properties ... are all sitting at around $250 to $280 for a two bedroom. It's not sustainable.

"You'd be paying rent and you wouldn't be able to afford utilities or food or running the cost of your car."

Ms Waller attributed the low availability to population growth, due to people moving up from Melbourne for a better lifestyle.

Factors such as an increase in mental health problems and family violence also played a part, Ms Waller said.

She said new developments coming onto the market were unattainable for people on Centrelink payments.

Government needed to listen to the homeless and housing sectors to figure out what needed to be changed, Ms Waller said.

The government should consider offering incentives for landlords to rent out a property at reduced costs, she said.

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