Rental listings have fallen across Gold Coast suburbs as high levels of interstate migration and skyrocketing property prices put the squeeze on tenants.

REA Group data paints a stark picture of the city’s deepening rental crisis, with rental listings on the Gold Coast down a staggering 45.1 per cent since last year.

The figures show no annual growth in the volume of rental listings on realestate.com.au in any local suburb in the 12 months to July, compared with 2019/20.

REA Group economic research director Cameron Kusher said: “There has been a significant tightening in the availability of rental stock on the Gold Coast over the past year, reflecting strong demand for rental accommodation across the region.”

Latest data by SQM research shows residential vacancy rates hit 0.9 per cent in July, just slightly above the previous month’s record low of 0.7 per cent.

Rentals were tightest in the southern suburbs, with just 0.4 per cent vacancy; while the north Gold Coast sat at 0.6 per cent.

But there may be hope yet for search-weary tenants, with spring traditionally the season of movement within the property market and new rental listings up 4.7 per cent from the previous month, finally bucking the downwards trend.

REA Group’s suburb breakdown shows listings fell 73 per cent since last year in Currumbin Valley, 45 per cent in Tamborine, 43 per cent in Currumbin, and 42 per cent in both Tugun and Tallebudgera.

And available rentals in Maudsland, Reedy Creek, Upper Coomera, Ashmore and Coomera all fell between 35 and 39 per cent.

When it came to where tenants want to live, surfside hotspot Burleigh Heads maintained its allure, pulling in an average of 5,365 website views for every house listed for rent.

Palm Beach was also top of wish lists, with 5,231 views per listing, followed by Burleigh Waters, Pacific Pines, Miami and then Pimpama.

SUBURBS WITH MOST RENTAL LISTINGS

Pimpama 1189

Coomera 715

Southport 584

Upper Coomera 535

Robina 405

Ormeau 363

Helensvale 307

Labrador 297

Hope Island 279

Palm Beach 264

Source: realestate.com.au/news/