Is there a rental crisis in Wollongong and Australia wide? Senior Property Manager Rachel King sits down with Jordy to demystify the cause and effect of record low vacancy rates and ‘rent-bidding’ in a highly competitive rental market. The current decrease in rental availability follows almost two years of closed international borders, and is expected to drop further as borders reopen for migrants and particularly international students to the University of Wollongong. Why is this happening? What are Molenaar + McNeice doing about it? What should the real estate industry be doing?  With experience as both a landlord and tenant, Rachel seeks to ease confusion and increase transparency around how to secure a rental property in the Illawarra right now.