Month at a glance
Asking rents continued to feel pressure throughout August. Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth all saw rates fall month-on-month (MoM) across every unit size. Sydney was mixed, holding its weighted average steady at $443 per month, while Adelaide was the clear bright spot, with six of seven unit sizes posting MoM growth and positive last-twelve-months (LTM) growth across the board.
On the supply side (units marketed), total units marketed for rent are up over the LTM in four of the five markets. Brisbane leads with a +10.6% increase, followed by Sydney (+6.1%) and Perth (+5.2%). Adelaide is flat (+0.1%), while Melbourne is the only market to record a small contraction (−0.5%). MoM, units marketed rose in all five markets, led by Sydney (+7.0%) and Brisbane (+4.7%).
Total Units Marketed for Rent
LTM Change – September 2025 to August 2026
← Absorption | More units available →
| Melbourne | −0.50% | ||
| Adelaide | +0.10% | ||
| Perth | +5.22% | ||
| Sydney | +6.08% | ||
| Brisbane | +10.59% |
MoM Change – July 2026 to August 2026
← Absorption | More units available →
| Perth | +0.59% | ||
| Melbourne | +1.70% | ||
| Adelaide | +2.73% | ||
| Brisbane | +4.67% | ||
| Sydney | +6.98% |
Greater Sydney
Mixed Result
Greater Sydney posted a mixed result for August. 12.00m² units were the strongest performers, with asking rates up +1.75% month-over-month (MoM). 9.00m² and 13.50m² units were flat, while the remaining unit sizes saw asking rate decreases of between −0.72% and −2.09%. Larger units continue to hold their ground over the last twelve months, with 18.00m² up +4.27%. The weighted average unit price remains unchanged at Avg Rate $443 per month.
| Size (m²) | Avg. $/Unit/mo. Aug 2026 |
Avg. Monthly Growth LTM |
Simple Growth LTM |
MoM % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | $123 | (0.14%) | (1.54%) | (0.72%) |
| 4.50 | $178 | (0.03%) | (0.38%) | (2.09%) |
| 6.00 | $210 | (0.28%) | (3.04%) | (1.09%) |
| 9.00 | $290 | (0.05%) | (0.50%) | 0.10% |
| 12.00 | $394 | 0.01% | 0.06% | 1.75% |
| 13.50 | $407 | 0.22% | 2.48% | 0.04% |
| 18.00 | $591 | 0.38% | 4.27% | (1.23%) |
Greater Melbourne
Decline Continues
In Greater Melbourne, the downward trend continues, with asking rates declining MoM for all unit sizes. 4.50m², 6.00m², 9.00m² and 12.00m² units have now posted MoM decreases for four consecutive months, while 2.25m², 13.50m² and 18.00m² have fallen in three of the past four months. Over the last twelve months, 9.00m² and 6.00m² units are down −12.06% and −11.69% respectively. The weighted average unit price is Avg Rate $300 per month – the lowest point since April 2024.
| Size (m²) | Avg. $/Unit/mo. Aug 2026 |
Avg. Monthly Growth LTM |
Simple Growth LTM |
MoM % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | $99 | (0.23%) | (2.51%) | (1.99%) |
| 4.50 | $146 | (0.64%) | (6.82%) | (2.59%) |
| 6.00 | $170 | (1.12%) | (11.69%) | (3.01%) |
| 9.00 | $234 | (1.16%) | (12.06%) | (1.28%) |
| 12.00 | $319 | (0.69%) | (7.38%) | (1.02%) |
| 13.50 | $330 | (0.89%) | (9.37%) | (2.87%) |
| 18.00 | $464 | (0.27%) | (2.91%) | (1.32%) |
Greater Brisbane
Losing Ground
Greater Brisbane is on a similar path to Greater Melbourne, with asking rates declining MoM for all unit sizes. 2.25m² units have posted MoM decreases for seven consecutive months, while 12.00m² units have fallen for eight consecutive months. 13.50m² and 18.00m² units saw the sharpest monthly falls, down −3.38% and −3.12%. The weighted average unit price is Avg Rate $303 per month, a −2.56% decrease from July 2026.
| Size (m²) | Avg. $/Unit/mo. Aug 2026 |
Avg. Monthly Growth LTM |
Simple Growth LTM |
MoM % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | $108 | (0.72%) | (7.60%) | (0.68%) |
| 4.50 | $154 | (0.80%) | (8.47%) | (2.66%) |
| 6.00 | $187 | (0.94%) | (9.87%) | (2.73%) |
| 9.00 | $241 | (0.81%) | (8.53%) | (2.01%) |
| 12.00 | $309 | (0.85%) | (9.00%) | (1.81%) |
| 13.50 | $320 | (0.86%) | (9.04%) | (3.38%) |
| 18.00 | $446 | (0.24%) | (2.60%) | (3.12%) |
Greater Perth
Under Pressure
Greater Perth is the third capital city, behind Greater Melbourne and Greater Brisbane, to see asking rates decline MoM for all unit sizes. 6.00m² units have posted MoM decreases for six consecutive months, while 9.00m² units have fallen for nine consecutive months. Three unit sizes are now down more than 10% over the last twelve months, led by 4.50m² at −11.58%. The weighted average unit price is Avg Rate $285 per month – the lowest point since November 2023.
| Size (m²) | Avg. $/Unit/mo. Aug 2026 |
Avg. Monthly Growth LTM |
Simple Growth LTM |
MoM % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | $114 | (1.01%) | (10.54%) | (2.47%) |
| 4.50 | $151 | (1.11%) | (11.58%) | (1.87%) |
| 6.00 | $210 | (0.49%) | (5.30%) | (1.56%) |
| 9.00 | $245 | (1.10%) | (11.42%) | (2.02%) |
| 12.00 | $311 | (0.89%) | (9.32%) | (0.44%) |
| 13.50 | $325 | (0.73%) | (7.70%) | (2.69%) |
| 18.00 | $449 | (0.37%) | (3.94%) | (1.84%) |
Greater Adelaide
★ Shining Star
Greater Adelaide is the shining star in an otherwise bleak month for asking rates. Six of seven unit sizes posted MoM growth, led by 9.00m² units at +1.30%. 18.00m² units were the only size to see a decrease (−2.25%). Adelaide is also the only market with positive growth across every unit size over the last twelve months, led by 2.25m² (+8.12%) and 4.50m² (+8.05%). The weighted average unit price is Avg Rate $310 per month, a nominal decrease from July 2026 ($312 per month).
| Size (m²) | Avg. $/Unit/mo. Aug 2026 |
Avg. Monthly Growth LTM |
Simple Growth LTM |
MoM % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.25 | $111 | 0.71% | 8.12% | 0.66% |
| 4.50 | $153 | 0.71% | 8.05% | 0.04% |
| 6.00 | $187 | 0.32% | 3.59% | 0.31% |
| 9.00 | $252 | 0.42% | 4.72% | 1.30% |
| 12.00 | $295 | 0.44% | 4.99% | 0.65% |
| 13.50 | $347 | 0.57% | 6.42% | 0.39% |
| 18.00 | $416 | 0.21% | 2.28% | (2.25%) |
Notes: All prices are net of GST. Unit sizes include units within +/-0.25m² of the standard size. Average monthly growth uses the geometric mean of monthly price changes. Total units marketed for rent covers the seven standard self storage unit sizes only.