Brisbane rents rise 1.3% in September quarter, outpacing the national pace

What's happening

Brisbane landlords continued to see solid rental income growth through the September quarter, with Cotality's Quarterly Rental Review showing the city's median rent rose 1.3% to $746 a week. That was more than double the 0.5% national increase and kept Brisbane among the stronger capital city rental markets.

The broader picture is one of cooling momentum. National rent growth slowed from 1.6% in the June quarter and 2.1% in March, while vacancy rates rose across most markets, giving tenants a little more choice than in recent years.

The key details

Cotality's September quarter figures show Brisbane still outpacing the national average on both quarterly and annual growth.

• Brisbane median rent: $746 a week, up 0.4% in September, 1.3% over the quarter and 6.4% over 12 months.
• Brisbane vacancy rate: 2.3%, up from 1.8% a year earlier.
• Brisbane gross rental yield: 3.5%, the same as a year ago.
• National median rent: $713 a week, up 5.5% annually; national vacancy 2.1%.
• Regional Australia rents rose 0.8% in the quarter and 5.6% over the year.
• Rental households were spending about 34% of pre-tax income on rent in June, a record.

Timeline and next steps

The figures cover the three months to 30 September 2026 and were published on 9 October. Cotality updates its rent and vacancy series monthly, with the next quarterly review due in January. Other measures differ by method: SQM Research's listings-based vacancy figure for Brisbane was 0.9% in September, so investors should compare like with like when tracking the trend.

What it means for Gold Coast property owners and developers

Brisbane's 6.4% annual rent rise and steady 3.5% yield point to resilient demand for rental housing across South East Queensland, which supports income for Gold Coast investors whose markets tend to track the broader region. Cotality's report did not provide a separate Gold Coast figure, so local owners should check suburb-level data before resetting rents.

The rise in vacancy and slower quarterly growth suggest rent increases may be harder to push through than in previous years, with tenants gaining some negotiating room. For developers, sustained rental demand supports the case for build-to-rent and investor-friendly stock. This is general commentary, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Brisbane rents rise in the September quarter?

Cotality says Brisbane rents rose 1.3% in the quarter and 6.4% over the year, to a median of $746 a week.

Is Brisbane's rental vacancy rate rising?

Yes. Cotality's measure shows Brisbane vacancy at 2.3%, up from 1.8% a year earlier, though still a relatively tight market.

Which capital city had the strongest rent growth?

Darwin led the capitals with a 5.8% quarterly rise, while Sydney was the only capital to record a fall, of 0.4%.

Source: Cotality Quarterly Rental Review, published 9 October 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.