As the lines between work and home life become increasingly blurred, a fast internet connection is a non-negotiable for any property search.
Right now, Australia’s best internet solution is the nbn. It delivers the fastest speeds and most reliable connection to suburbs all across the country.
When it comes to our rental cohort, many of whom belong to the ‘internet generation’, access to the web is a must-have.
We asked a renter, a real estate agent, and a property market analyst if high-speed internet has changed how renters are looking for properties.
Here’s what they had to say.
What the renters say: “Everything we do is online”
Alex, a 30-year-old renter from Sydney, says internet speed is a high priority in her household.
“Even before isolation and social distancing, I worked from home – so the internet was key,” she says.
“I work in social media, so a good connection is non-negotiable. I’m always on the internet and video chat with clients a lot. I look unprofessional if my internet is cutting us off mid-conversation.”
For many renters working from home, nbn is an essential. Picture: Getty
While Alex’s residence didn’t initially have the nbn when she moved in three years ago, when it became available in her apartment building, she jumped at the chance to have it installed.
“The internet was so slow at night when everyone would come home and jump on Netflix or Spotify,” she says.
“That’s the thing, even when it’s not for work or study, you still need strong internet because everything we do is online. When we listen to music, it’s online, when we watch TV, it’s online – and there’s nothing worse than a show buffering right in the middle!”
Nobody wants to sit down to relax and then deal with a buffering TV show. Picture: Kate Hunter
Alex says when searching for future rental properties she will make sure to always ask the real estate agent if nbn is available.
“It would definitely tilt the scales,” she says.
What the real estate agents say: “It’s an expectation”
Sam Nokes of Jellis Craig Armadale says people don’t necessarily ask about nbn anymore – it’s an expectation.
“People were asking about it three years ago,” he says. “They were asking: ‘Is it connected? When is it due to be connected?’ But now there’s an expectation that nbn is already there.”
When it comes to nbn, renters don’t ask, they assume. Picture: Erinna Giblin
“For instance, we [real estate agents] used to say, ‘oh, look! This place has nbn!” Now, we’re more likely to mention it if a place doesn’t have nbn,” he says.
However, the flip-side is the questions may start rolling in after the tenant has moved in.
“We’ve had tenants lodge complaints after they’ve moved in and found out that they can’t connect to nbn or there’s a huge delay in installing it. That’s the level of expectation – they assume that they should be able to connect.”
Aussie Broadband GM of Service Delivery Leigh Markham says that if nbn has not yet been installed at an address, it may take a couple of weeks to get an appointment.
His advice to tenants is to book an appointment for as close as possible to the day they move in, or use Aussie’s “don’t connect before this date” feature. If nbn has already been installed, a new connection can take minutes or days, depending on which provider you choose.
“A stable and speedy connection is the backbone of our day-to-day lives,” says Leigh.
“Aussie Broadband is committed to offering an nbn connection that won’t leave you frozen on a Zoom call. Ours is a fast, reliable connection, coupled with the high standard of customer service you’d expect to get you up and running as soon as possible.”
What the analysts say: “It’s an essential service now”
Although there is no conclusive data on the topic, realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee says that nbn is undeniably a key factor for renters.
“It’s definitely a high priority for renters, especially since the COVID-19 crisis,” she says. “Soon, a good nbn service will be seen not only as a high priority, but just as necessary as electricity for your home.
“It’s seen as a critical item, not as something which is nice-to-have. It’s an essential service. ”
When it comes to other features that are important to renters, Conisbee states popular search terms include ‘pet-friendly’, ‘air-conditioning’ and ‘NRAS’ (National Rental Affordability Scheme).