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Majority of Aussies living in homes that are 'too big', report finds

Majority of Aussies living in homes that are 'too big', report finds

9 News5 hours ago
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Up to 60 per cent of Aussies either live on their own or with just one other person, but the bulk of houses in Australia have three bedrooms or more, a study from Cotality shows. The reasons for Aussies wanting larger homes include the desire to have a home office as work from home rises, as well as having a spare bedroom for visitors. Despite most housing having three bedrooms or more, it is clear most households have no more than two people in them. (Supplied/Cotality) Houses have also become larger over time; as the urban sprawl pushes new developments further away from urban centres, homeowners prioritise features such as home gyms and home theatres. However, it could cause inefficiencies in how housing is allocated across the country, exacerbating the housing crisis that has gripped Australia. "When most Australians picture the 'Great Australian Dream', they see a family with kids in a three or four-bedroom house. But data shows that dream does not match reality," Eliza Owen from Cotality said. "Couples without children and people living alone make up the majority of households, raising questions about how well our housing market is serving real demand." (A Current Affair) One-bedroom and studio homes make up just six per cent of Australia's current housing stock. Despite this, there is some change beginning to be seen; the share of units and dwellings other than houses has risen to 40 per cent, which would provide a more appropriate housing option for smaller households, according to Owen. She said governments need to take more action to help stimulate change, however. "Governments could make it more expensive to have more housing than you need, and cheaper to live in smaller housing," she said. "Many advocate for tax reform like abolishing stamp duty - which makes it cheaper to move housing - and replacing it with a broad-based land tax, which raises costs the more land you own." housing
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