Welcoming the Federal Government’s positive response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s interim report on international education, the Student Accommodation Council has called on states and councils to translate policy intent into bricks and mortar. In a 1 April 2026 media release, the Council—part of the Property Council of Australia—said more than 11,000 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds are under construction, with another 27,000 approved or in planning, yet many projects are hampered by inconsistent planning rules and foreign-owner surcharges. International education is Australia’s fourth-largest export, contributing AUD 48 billion annually and supporting 250,000 jobs.
![Student Accommodation Council urges fast-tracking of purpose-built housing for international students]()
Alongside investment in physical housing, facilitating smooth visa processing remains essential for maintaining Australia’s appeal. VisaHQ’s Australian platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) helps students, university mobility officers and education agents navigate up-to-date visa requirements, assemble documentation and submit applications efficiently, reducing administrative friction that can otherwise delay arrivals.
However, rental-market tightness in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane has seen average weekly rents for students surge 21 % year-on-year, undermining the sector’s competitiveness against Canada and the United Kingdom. The Council’s Executive Director Dr Adele Lausberg argued that PBSA removes pressure from the mainstream rental market while offering professionally managed, safety-compliant housing that meets visa obligations. She urged state treasuries to exempt PBSA projects from foreign-owner duty surcharges and to streamline building-height and parking requirements that currently add up to AUD 30,000 per bed. For universities and global mobility teams, the shortage of guaranteed beds complicates recruitment drives. Several Group-of-Eight institutions have already introduced accommodation bonds to secure places for 2027 cohorts, passing costs on to agents and students. Practical next steps include coordinated national-state planning guidelines, unlocking superannuation fund capital through tax clarity, and fast-tracking development approvals in designated education precincts. Mobility managers should monitor forthcoming state budget statements for surcharge exemptions that could bring new supply online before the 2027 academic year.
Alongside investment in physical housing, facilitating smooth visa processing remains essential for maintaining Australia’s appeal. VisaHQ’s Australian platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) helps students, university mobility officers and education agents navigate up-to-date visa requirements, assemble documentation and submit applications efficiently, reducing administrative friction that can otherwise delay arrivals.
However, rental-market tightness in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane has seen average weekly rents for students surge 21 % year-on-year, undermining the sector’s competitiveness against Canada and the United Kingdom. The Council’s Executive Director Dr Adele Lausberg argued that PBSA removes pressure from the mainstream rental market while offering professionally managed, safety-compliant housing that meets visa obligations. She urged state treasuries to exempt PBSA projects from foreign-owner duty surcharges and to streamline building-height and parking requirements that currently add up to AUD 30,000 per bed. For universities and global mobility teams, the shortage of guaranteed beds complicates recruitment drives. Several Group-of-Eight institutions have already introduced accommodation bonds to secure places for 2027 cohorts, passing costs on to agents and students. Practical next steps include coordinated national-state planning guidelines, unlocking superannuation fund capital through tax clarity, and fast-tracking development approvals in designated education precincts. Mobility managers should monitor forthcoming state budget statements for surcharge exemptions that could bring new supply online before the 2027 academic year.
