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Like all big issues, the current housing crunch affecting Queensland (and the world more broadly) has complicated causes. In our state, one part of the puzzle is the number of Queenslanders living in homes that don’t fit their needs.

We all know about the idea of downsizing, but could “rightsizing” offer a solution to housing shortages?

The stats show that we continue to live large

71% of Australians live in separate houses (a building at least 1.5 metres away from the next home), but in Queensland our average household size (the number of people living in a home) is steadily decreasing.

With fewer people living in each home, this should mean that people are living in smaller buildings. Data shows, however, that across Australia, newly built homes are roughly the same size they were ten years ago. This means that a fair chunk of our community are living in homes that they’re not fully using.

It’s impossible to put a number on how many Queenslanders live in houses with more rooms or a larger yard space than they need, because everyone uses their home in a different way. What we do know is that even people who want to live in a more compact home might not be able find one, because homes that are a different size simply don’t exist in the numbers that buyers and renters need.

Being able to rightsize depends on there being a variety of homes in different sizes and styles across our suburbs, not expecting everyone to want to live in a traditional house and yard.

What does rightsizing look like?

The idea of rightsizing doesn’t mean that no one gets to live in a large home. A large home suits a lot of Queenslanders for various reasons – they might have large families, pets, frequent visitors, caring obligations or run businesses from home.

Rightsizing means having the ability to choose a different option, like a unit, townhouse, duplex or granny flat, rather than just a house. By supporting housing diversity across our suburbs, everyone has choices available to them.

When people don’t have the option to rightsize, it puts pressure on the whole system. When more people can choose to rightsize, larger homes become available for those who need them.

Gentle density means your house might not be forever, but your home could be

Building more diverse housing isn’t just a good thing for people who need a home now.

An increase in housing diversity in your area – which means considered developments that add options like units, terrace houses and townhouses to an area, alongside standalone houses – could mean that you are able to live where you have put down roots for longer.

A 2015 survey of older Australians by the Productivity Commission showed that the majority of older Australians want to continue to live in their neighbourhood as they age. While some will choose and be able to continue to live in their family home, others may want or need to move somewhere smaller, easier to maintain or more accessible for their needs.

If a diverse range of housing isn’t available in their area, they may be forced to move elsewhere, leaving behind communities, friends and family, and regular services like their GPs and hairdressers.

Diverse housing can also help more first home buyers get on the property ladder, buying a smaller property for a lower price. It also can provide more options of safe and enjoyable housing options for people with a disability, living with chronic illness or for people who want a smaller footprint.

Rightsizing is good for communities

When the main option for people looking to buy or rent a home is a standalone house with a yard, people are pushed to live in homes that are larger than they need and spread further out into ever-sprawling suburbs. This creates disconnected communities and puts pressure on infrastructure. Housing becomes increasingly unaffordable for everyone because the high demand for standalone houses raises the price.

One impact of this urban sprawl is that people can’t always choose to live in a way that keeps them connected to their communities. People who choose to have children have to move away from their suburbs to find homes they can afford, and older people who need more accessible housing find it’s not available in the place they’ve lived for decades.

Having the choice to rightsize can also mean having the choice to stay connected to community across different stages of life.

Is rightsizing a reality in your area?

Consider the area you live in. Is rightsizing an option for different people? Would it be possible in your suburb for a young person to share a flat with a friend, move into their own unit, start a family in a house with a yard, and then retire into a townhouse with a spare room for visiting grandchildren?

Everyone’s housing journey will look different, so making sure a diverse range of housing options are available is an important part of planning for Queensland’s future.

How everyday Queenslanders can support more housing diversity and make rightsizing a possibility

While the state government can legislate the need for more housing diversity, and local governments can put diverse housing plans into action, public support for diverse housing developments can make a big difference to the types of homes that get built in Queensland communities.

The best time to have your say on plans for housing in your area is during the plan-making stage. Use our plan-making dashboard to see when your local planning scheme is open for consultation.

You can also start the conversation about the benefits of housing diversity in your community by talking about it with friends, family and colleagues.

Want more information? Read our blogs about how we’re tackling housing supply and how we plan in Queensland or watch our videos about housing solutions.

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