Darwin unit rentals stabilise after four years of decline: Domain

Darwin house rents held steady over the quarter, but declined over the year by 3.8% to $500 a week, according to the latest rental report from Domain.

The report found that unit rents in Darwin experienced no quarterly or annual change, holding steady at $400 per week.

This is the first time in four years unit rents have not declined over the quarter and year.

Darwin continued to offer investors the highest unit gross rental yields at 6.08%, the only Australian capital city to achieve a yield above 6%.

"For investors, a softening sales market continues to improve unit gross rental yields, almost pushing them back to the record highs achieved in 2004 and 2005," said Domain Senior Research Analyst, Dr Nicola Powell.

"A turnaround in rental demand for the city is largely dependent on economic growth, jobs creation and an improved population growth.

"The Northern Territory Government has announced a revitalisation of Darwin’s CBD with an aim at enhancing liveability, and offering key workers financial incentives to relocate.

"The impacts from the initiatives remain to be seen but the long-term approach to addressing population growth are likely to support rental demand."