State government data has revealed social homes were sitting vacant for an average of 42.7 days in the 12 months to June, up from 25.1 days in the same period last year.
The vacancy rate for public housing in July this year was 0.6 per cent — with 56,000 homes managed by the government across the state and 44,000 people on the waiting list.
Advocates are calling on the state government to work to bring the vacancy number back to 2025 levels.
Data released in response to a question on notice shows in the 12 months to June 2025, homes were vacant for an average of 25.1 days.
Maiy Azize is the national spokesperson for Everybody's Home, a coalition of welfare and homelessness organisations that work on the housing shortage.
The data shows in June this year, there were 342 homes sitting vacant, up from 173 the month earlier, or 312 from the same time last year.
In his response to the question on notice, housing minister Sam O'Connor said issues like repairs, changes, availability of contractors and material supply delays can be a factor in how long a property is unoccupied for.
Fiona Caniglia, the head of Q Shelter which is a non-for-profit group advocating on housing and homelessness, said she wanted the vacancy rate to return to 2025 levels.
Ms Caniglia said reducing vacancy rates was important for those in housing stress and for those providing social housing.
The Department of Housing and Public Works said tenants in social homes were staying longer — for an average of 11 years.