Apartment rents tumble off the cliff in Sydney and Melbourne

Similarly, Melbourne suffered a 3 per cent quarterly decline and 7.6 per cent yearly decline to a five-year low of $388.

Of all the capital cities, Melbourne units have recorded the deepest fall in asking rent since pre-pandemic March, down 9.8 per cent.

Domain highlighted that although the rate of decline eased over the December quarter, three consecutive quarterly falls have resulted in the steepest annual fall on record.

“For the first time in five years, Melbourne is the third most affordable capital city to rent a unit, after Adelaide and Perth,” Domain said.

“A marked change considering Melbourne was the third most expensive city to rent a unit back in March. Inner-city apartments have been hardest hit with rents at a seven-year low, followed by the inner east and inner south hitting a four-year low.”

As for Sydney, Domain explained that unit rents have been hardest hit in the city and east and inner west, with rents at an eight-year low, while the lower north shore is the cheapest in nine years.

Two areas have bucked the downward trend: unit rents on the Central Coast and Northern Beaches have reached record highs.

“Annually, unit rents have been falling since mid-2018, but this trend has been accelerated by changes as a result of COVID-19.

“The pandemic-induced collapse to overseas migration and foreign student numbers has reduced rental demand. Units have felt the impact, particularly inner-city apartments, which are home to more rentals and have a greater exposure to demand sourced from overseas migrants,” Domain said.

It tipped that while vacant unit rentals will continue to rise, tenants in search of a house will start to find fewer available to rent.