National social housing survey 2025

‘It helps out a lot financially and just in general. For instance I got my washing machine and fridge for free, there are loads of services and assistance.’  

‘I am living here for a long time, even the houses are in good condition. The services are very nice. The important thing is, I'm living here for a longer period.’ 

‘The local housing officer can never be contacted the generic email response is extremely frustrating.’

‘Housing has been very good to me as I was a single mother with 7 children 5 living with me up until a few years ago.’

Tenant satisfaction with overall services provided by their housing organisation refers to whether tenants are generally happy with the services they received. It is a reflection of whether providers are delivering high quality social housing services while also capturing tenants’ perspective on aspects of social housing. 

This section presents estimates of the proportion of social housing households that reported satisfaction with the overall services provided by their housing organisation. For more information regarding how the NSHS estimates are calculated, please see the technical notes. 

Overall satisfaction has declined

Across all programs, tenant satisfaction fell slightly to 68% in 2025, down from 69% in 2023. Between 2014 and 2025, satisfaction peaked in 2018 at 75%, then declined in 2021, 2023 and again in 2025 (Figure Satisfaction.1, Table S1.1). 

The largest decline in satisfaction was observed among SOMIH tenants, where satisfaction fell from 68% in 2023 to 57% in 2025. Community housing tenant satisfaction decreased slightly from 75% in 2023 to 73% in 2025, while public housing tenant satisfaction remained unchanged at 67%.   

Satisfaction varied between states and territories

’We were homeless in a park it affected us all mentally and physically. The housing staff made us feel like we weren't a burden, they had empathy which made them very approachable.’  

‘Appreciate our property manager from social housing having us be here then referring us to public housing to find a more long term place to stay and now appreciate our officer from Rent Connect to help us immediately, very grateful.’ 

‘I have lived in my current home for almost 60 years and I feel safe and am able to access all my needs.’

‘Being able to stay in a safe house, in the same area. I was able to have a stable home to raise my children. I feel very settled, close to work and my support system.’

‘Had problems in area, requested transfer with no acknowledgment.’ 

In 2025, the satisfaction rate for 2025 varied by state and territory, with satisfaction highest among tenants living in Western Australia. 

Across all social housing programs (Figure Satisfaction.1, Table S1.1):

• Western Australia had the highest satisfaction rate at 78%, followed by Queensland (76%), Tasmania (74%) and South Australia (69%).
• The Northern Territory had a satisfaction rate of 67%, and New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory had overall satisfaction rates of 65%, 63% and 62% respectively.

Across all housing programs, tenant satisfaction decreased in all states and territories except New South Wales, Western Australia, and Tasmania between 2023 and 2025.

Satisfaction varied between programs

‘Rent is cheaper, more relaxed, closer to family.’

‘Very comfortable. We treat our home with love and care as if it was our own. Love our home so very much.’

‘I feel more secure. I don't feel worried that I might be asked to leave at any moment.’  

‘Affordable housing. Rent according to benefits received from Centrelink. I live in a great area and I have nice neighbours.’

‘There are 11 units here and 3 of them have police regularly visiting them for various reasons. I no longer feel safe in these units because of this.’ 

Nationally, tenants in community housing had a higher satisfaction rate (73%) than public housing (67%) and SOMIH (57%) in 2025. This pattern was found in most states and territories except for Tasmania, where the satisfaction rate was similar for SOMIH (72%), community housing and public housing (both 74%) (Figure Satisfaction.1, Table S1.1). For the Northern Territory, public housing was the only housing program in scope for the NSHS. 

Satisfaction with public housing ranged from 60% in Victoria to 77% in Western Australia. Satisfaction with community housing ranged from 63% in the Australian Capital Territory, to 82% in Western Australia. For SOMIH, satisfaction among tenants ranged from 45% in New South Wales to 75% in Queensland (Figure Satisfaction.1, Table S1.1).

It is important to note that the variance among social housing programs could be related to other factors. For further details on the underlying factors that explain the variation in satisfaction rates among social housing programs see Factors significantly associated with tenant satisfaction.

Satisfaction varied for interactions with housing staff

In 2025, the survey added 3 new questions to gauge how tenants felt about interactions with housing staff. 

Across all housing programs Australia-wide, 79% of tenants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their interactions with housing staff. This varied across states and territories, ranging from 85% satisfaction for Western Australia and Queensland, to 76% for Victoria. Rates remained quite steady across housing programs nation-wide, with public housing showing an 80% satisfaction rate with their interactions, community housing reporting a 79% rate of satisfaction, and SOMIH a 78% satisfaction rate (Figure Housing Staff. 1).

The survey also asked tenants how satisfied they were with their organisation’s response time to questions or requests over the past 12 months. For all programs, nationally, tenants reported a 61% satisfaction rate, with state and territory results varying from 56% satisfied for the Australian Capital Territory, through to 71% satisfied for Western Australia. Results for all states and territories varied by program, from 48% satisfied Australia-wide for SOMIH, 61% for public housing, and 63% for community housing (Figure Housing Org.1). 

These results show that across all programs, tenants noted a higher level of satisfaction relating to interactions with housing staff compared with overall satisfaction with their social housing services in 2025 (Figure Housing Org.1). 

Satisfaction varied by time in social housing

In 2025, tenants who had been living in social housing for less than one year had a 79% satisfaction rate, whereas tenants who had been living in social housing for more than 21 years reported a 64% satisfaction rate (Figure Tenure.1, Table S1.7). While differences in satisfaction were less notable in the mid-range years, they illustrate the general trend of decline in satisfaction with longer tenure in social housing.

Satisfaction varied by overcrowding status*

Across all housing programs, tenants living in overcrowded households reported lower rates of satisfaction (53%) than those living in households deemed as underutilised and those deemed adequate (69% and 68% respectively; Table S1.6). Overcrowding in the NSHS is measured using the Canadian National Occupancy Standard (CNOS).

*Based on the Canadian National Occupancy Standard. See glossary for details.