Rents up everywhere

Rents on houses increased 3.4% to $422 a week nationally over the 12 months to October 2009, while apartments rose 4.1% to $409.

According to RP Data, the biggest increases were in Rose Bay, NSW where median advertised rents on houses jumped 58.3% to $950 from $600 a year ago.

For units, Brisbane's West End saw rents go up 39.4% to $460 a week from $330.

Other big rises in advertised median house rentals were in Toorak, Victoria ( up 44% to $1280/week), Bulimba in Brisbane ( up 44% to $650), and Griffith in the ACT (up 41% to $1100 per week).