Detached and Under Pressure: Why Melbourne Needs More Family Rentals

Melbourne’s rental market is increasingly shaped by family households looking for more space, longer-term stability and access to established community amenities. While much of the growth in new rental supply has been concentrated in high-density formats, the demand for detached rentals in Melbourne, particularly three- and four-bedroom family homes, remains significant.

Detached rentals sit at the intersection of two realities. For families, housing choices are shaped by room and routine, including schooling, childcare, commutes and the local networks that make-up day-to-day life. Unfortunately, due to the cost of land, more and more new rental properties coming onto the market are small apartments. This can leave families with fewer housing choices that match how and where they want to live.

Resimax Group’s approach treats family rentals as a core component of a well-functioning community. The focus is not only on housing type and longer-term availability, but on whether families can secure a home that supports day-to-day living within an amenity-led community.

Family rentals under strain

Detached family rentals remain one of the tighter parts of Melbourne’s rental market because there are fewer homes that meet the practical needs of families. For many households, that means space for children and pets, a secure backyard, off-street parking, and direct access to the home, alongside the confidence that a rental will be available for several years.

In tight market conditions, families have historically widened their search to more affordable options such as units so they can stay local and manage costs. However, this pathway is increasingly offering less relief, with Melbourne’s median unit rent rising to $580 per week, matching the median house rent of $580 per week (Domain, 2025.)

With units no longer delivering the same cost advantage, the “rent a cheaper unit now, upgrade later” approach is becoming less viable. More families are instead focusing on securing a rental that will suit longer-term needs from the outset, which is driving demand for houses in the right communities, with the right amenity.

“The family rental segment is where tight conditions surface fastest, because households are making long-term decisions around three- and four-bedroom homes that support schools, routines and stability, not short-term preference,” said Aziz (Ozzie) Kheir (Resimax Group Founding Director).

A deliberate supply response

Detached rentals have largely been supplied by mum and dad investors, rather than being purpose-built as part of a coordinated housing response. Homes enter and exit the rental pool as investors buy, sell or switch to owner-occupation, and maintenance standards can vary from property to property. Tenure is also less predictable, with leases often shaped by an owner’s personal circumstances, even when a family wants to stay.

Resimax Group’s detached build-to-rent program responds to the shortage of family-sized rentals by retaining homes that would otherwise be sold to investors or owner-occupiers, and managing them as long-term rental stock through Leap Real Estate. The program includes 500 detached homes across Eynesbury, Mernda and Wallan. Looking ahead, Resimax Group intends to allocate five to ten per cent of housing stock in future developments as build-to-rent stock.

This increases the availability of three- and four-bedroom homes in communities where families are already choosing to live, and provides a more stable rental pathway within those neighbourhoods.

“Detached rentals work best when they’re planned and retained, not left to chance. This is a targeted response to a clear gap, giving people a genuine option to put down roots in communities designed for long-term living,” said Ozzie.

Built for families to stay local

Stability is shaped by more than a lease. Families build routines around schooling, childcare, local services and community networks. When housing options are limited, disruption follows quickly, even when the weekly rent is manageable.

Detached rental supply works best when it sits inside communities designed for family life. Eynesbury is anchored by an established education precinct, with a state primary school, kindergarten and childcare in place, and planning for a future non-government secondary school. Everyday convenience is set to expand through Eynesbury Village Stage 1, anchored by a full-line Coles and planned to include speciality retail, food and beverage, a gym and essential services, with construction anticipated to commence in mid-2026.

Family life also extends into open space. More than half of the township is dedicated to green space, with 27km of walking and cycling trails, and parks and reserves woven through the community. Recreation is part of daily life too, from a world-class 18-hole golf course to local ovals and courts, alongside a number of cafés and restaurants.

In Newbridge South, Wallan, liveability is closely tied to access and connection. The Wallan town centre is close for everyday needs, alongside education options including a new Catholic primary school within the estate and established schools nearby. Connectivity also supports working families, with Wallan Railway Station minutes away and the Hume Freeway providing a direct link to Melbourne. Waterways, wetlands, sporting fields and the five-hectare Ephemeral Wetlands add another layer of nature and play to the neighbourhood.

Mernda Rise brings a different appeal again. Its natural elevation and outlook shape the community’s character, with homes planned to suit the site and an emphasis on liveability and quality. In a fast-growing area, that sense of space and setting becomes part of what supports family life day to day.

“Families shouldn’t have to step out of a community to find a home that fits. Increasing the availability of detached rentals in the right locations supports continuity and stronger local connection,” said Ozzie.

A steadier path for Melbourne families

Resimax Group’s detached build-to-rent program will remain a focus of the business as future communities are planned and delivered.

“Family rentals are not a temporary feature of the market. They are part of how Melbourne will house its growing population, particularly in communities designed for long-term living. Meeting that requires rental supply that is planned early, retained deliberately, and managed for stability.

“The next step is broader adoption. When family-sized rentals are treated as core community infrastructure, not an afterthought, Melbourne’s rental market becomes more resilient and families are better placed to stay local over the long term,” concluded Ozzie.

Learn more about Resimax Group’s detached build-to-rent scheme here.