Australians are furious after discovering why the rent for a townhouse will soon rise by a staggering 86 per cent.
The three-bedroom semi-detached house on Radiant Street in Taigum, in Brisbane’s north, was listed on realestate.com for $348 a week.
But the rent will rise to $650 a week on September 8, when the property will no longer be eligible for support under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).
The NRAS was implemented in 2008 as part of the federal government’s long-term commitment to improving housing affordability.
The Rudd-era program paid landlords a subsidy in exchange for keeping rents on new homes below market rate for a decade, but the plan is now coming to an end.
A terraced house in Taigum was listed for $348 a week, but the rent will increase by 86 per cent on September 8, when the property will no longer be eligible for NRAS benefits.
With the last of the homes due to leave the scheme in mid-2026, tenants fear skyrocketing rental prices and cost of living pressures will only worsen the housing crisis.
A photo of the listing was shared on
Many social media users rallied to say the show had been “life-changing.”
“I was reporting on NRAS in 2010 when I was at Leader Newspapers and it was a great plan,” responded former journalist Emily Webb.
“About a decade ago, when I went back to school and my partner was unemployed for a considerable time, NRAS helped change our lives,” wrote another.
“The NRAS has allowed me to live alone in an apartment for seven years,” a third person commented.
The property features a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher.
The property in Taigum has two bathrooms, two parking spaces, an open-plan living room, a spacious backyard, a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher and two air conditioners.
“The property is located in a secure complex surrounded by gardens, CCTV security cameras and friendly on-site managers,” the advert reads.
“The complex is situated in a highly sought-after location, within walking distance of schools, daycares, shopping centers, recreational parks and public transportation.”
A Westfield shopping complex and the beach are also a 10-minute drive away.
But social media users criticized the drastic rent increase, saying it is “horrible” and “highlights the failures of capitalism.”
“The NRAS saved me and got me my apartment but then the program was abandoned. Now I have a 30% rent increase but there is nowhere cheaper to go,” one person said.
“It’s ridiculous that the NRAS is ending, especially when so many people need it,” wrote another.
“I know it wasn’t a perfect plan, but I’m so mad it’s over,” a third person commented.
The property is currently accepting applications from NRAS eligible tenants.
The NRAS eligibility test can be found on government websites and asks questions about whether the applicant owns any property, the amount of liquid assets in their household, and their combined annual gross income, among other things.
Crane Realty on-site manager Prue Xiong said the property will reach its full 10-year term as an NRAS property on September 7 and will no longer be eligible for NRAS benefits.
“As a result, we need to increase the rent,” he told Daily Mail Australia.