Queensland Social Homes Vacancy Rate Soars to 42.7 Days Amidst 44,000 Waitlist

Social homes in Queensland are sitting vacant for a dramatically increased period, despite a waitlist of over 44,000 people. Data shows that in the 12 months to June 2025, homes were vacant for an average of 25.1 days, but this number has jumped to 42.7 days for the same period to June this year.

Rising Vacancy Rates

The number of vacant social homes has also increased, with 342 homes sitting empty in June this year, up from 173 the month prior, or 312 from the same time last year. Maiy Azize, national spokesperson for Everybody's Home, a coalition of welfare and homelessness organisations, described the number of days social homes were vacant as "shocking".

"Every day that people spend waiting [and] can't move into one of these homes is a day where they're at greater risk of homelessness," she said.

Azize emphasized that for those waiting for accommodation to escape an unsafe situation, every day they wait puts them in greater danger.

"If they aren't homeless already, if they're sleeping rough on the street, it's another night where they're in very real danger. And if it's a woman who's waiting for accommodation so that she can leave an unsafe relationship, that's another day that she's in very real danger."

Government Response

Housing Minister Sam O'Connor attributed the increased vacancy rate to factors such as repairs, modifications, availability of contractors, and material supply delays. He stated that the department begins a process to identify and engage with prospective tenants on the social housing register while a property is undergoing work.

"While a property is undergoing work, the department commences a process to identify and engage with prospective tenants on the social housing register," Minister O'Connor said.

Fiona Caniglia, head of Q Shelter, a non-profit group advocating for housing and homelessness, expressed her desire to see the vacancy rate return to 2025 levels.

"Overall, it is really important that we're always trying to drive the number of days that properties are empty down," she said.

Caniglia highlighted the importance of reducing vacancy rates for those in housing stress and for social housing providers.

"Every night somebody isn't living in that home, they're not collecting rent and the rents are what pay for insurance rates, repairs … every aspect of their business is paid for by those rents," she said.

Comparison to Private Market

Minister O'Connor argued that the vacancy rate for public housing, which was 0.6 per cent in July, was below the private market vacancy rate of one per cent. However, Azize disputed the fairness of comparing the two markets.

"These people [on the social housing waiting list] they're actually in danger — they're in really severe rental stress," she said.

Azize emphasized that it is the government's responsibility to provide housing for those in need, not the private sector.

"It's actually not the job of the private sector to house those people. It's the government's job to house those people. So it's really not okay to be finding excuses for why you can't house them."