Rental vacancies are at record lows, and rents are increasing, on average, far faster than our incomes, particularly in our biggest cities.
That's leading to financial stress for many Australians and increasing the likelihood of housing insecurity.
One temporary solution that's been proposed is for people without secure housing to move into properties that have been sitting unused for more than 2 years, what is commonly referred to as squatting.
But is it legal to enter another person's house? What rights do property owners have? And why are some houses being left empty for years?
Guests:
Professor Cathy Sherry, Macquarie Law School, executive member, Smart Green Cities
Dr Iain McIntyre, Researcher and librarian at the Commons Social Change Library