Many Australians are facing the prospect of lifelong renting, as rising housing costs make home ownership increasingly unattainable. Sally and Theo Messenger, a couple from suburban Perth, express their concerns about the future. Despite having well-paying jobs, they struggle to save for a deposit while raising two children. "We feel we can't be competitive in the [home ownership] market," Mr. Messenger said.

The couple enjoys their rented home but wishes for more stability in their living situation. "People that I know are like, where's your kid going to go to daycare? Where's your kid going to go to primary school? And I'm like, I don't know where I'm going to be living in five years' time," Ms. Messenger said.

Sally's parents, Margaret and Jason Hemsley, also understand this struggle. They owned a home in the 1980s but had to sell during the 1990s recession. Now, they worry about their future without secure housing. "It might be OK now when we are both working full-time, but what are we going to do when we retire?" Mr. Hemsley asked.

Sally Messenger believes it is time for governments to provide more secure housing options for families like hers. "Up until, I guess, about six years ago, I'd never lived in a home, any home in my life for more than two years," she said. "I recognize how disruptive that can be growing up."

Experts are calling for a reevaluation of rental policies in Australia. Associate Professor Laurence Troy from the University of Sydney highlights the need for more social and affordable housing options. He notes that about one-third of Australia's population lives in rented accommodation, a number that is expected to grow among younger generations.

"We have a housing policy context where for decades the priority has been home ownership," Dr. Troy said. "We haven't really thought about having private rental as a long-term housing option, and that is a problem." He warns that this issue will become more pressing as the population ages.

Dr. Troy points out that the Australian welfare system is largely built around home ownership. "The pension assumes that you are a homeowner in terms of what it pays out. Even the superannuation system to a large extent assumes you will be a homeowner. If you're not [a homeowner], it is a big indicator of ending up in poverty in those retirement years," he said.

In contrast, some European countries have developed extensive social and affordable housing systems. For example, Austria has a significant portion of its population living in social housing, with Vienna being a prime example. Rainer Hauswirth and Andrea Mann have lived in social housing in Vienna for 12 years. They pay regulated rents that are less than 30 percent of their income and enjoy lifetime contracts.

"I don't feel any stigma; a lot of people really would like to live in this social housing because it's high quality, it doesn't mean that you're poor," Ms. Mann said. Approximately 50 percent of Vienna's residents live in some form of social housing, which is open to the middle class and considered desirable.

Dr. Wolfgang Amann, head of Austria's IIBW, Institute of Real Estate, Construction and Housing, emphasizes the benefits of Vienna's model. "It contributes very much to inclusive, livable space for all parts of the population," he said.

Vienna's social housing system began after World War I, with the city constructing large public housing estates. Markus Schubert from the City of Vienna Housing Service stated, "The idea is nobody has to live on the street … everybody can have a flat to live in."

Many rental contracts in Vienna do not expire, allowing leases to be passed down to family members. Edith Hofbäck, a long-time resident of a public housing building, shared her experience. "Even with my pension, living here is affordable … I'm happy and I can't imagine living anywhere else," she said.

Mr. Hauswirth and Ms. Mann appreciate the security their social housing provides. "It feels very stress-free to know that we can live in this social housing as long as we want to and we don't have to think about where can we live when we're going to retire," Ms. Mann said.

Sally Messenger hopes for similar security for her family. "I'd like to see the government do more, whether it's state or federal, to make sure there is more security for long-term renters and to really make that a priority area," she said.