People are living in tents because of limited rental properties while 87,000 homes are empty in one state - but should owners be penalised for not leasing them out?

More than 80,000 'empty' homes have been discovered across Queensland

Calls for actions to be enforced against owners who don't rent the houses out

Family forced to live in tent after becoming homeless after landlord sold rental

Rental costs in most capital cities have risen by double-digit percentages

More than 80,000 homes across Queensland have been left empty, prompting calls for action to be taken against those owners who don't rent them out.

The revelation comes as Australia experiences its worst rental crisis on record.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealed that 87,000 residential properties in Queensland weren't being rented out, while there were 577,000 across Australia, The Courier Mail reported.

Property expert Michael Matusik believes there should be new tax measures put in place to 'incentivise or penalise' owners to release the homes for rent.

'Around 29 per cent of investment properties are not rented out. They are sitting there vacant,' Mr Matusik said.

According to Urban Utilities, the Sunshine State's largest water provider, 19,500 houses in lower southeast Queensland had their water connection turned on.

However, it was discovered that there were no one living in those homes for many months.

Unitywater executive manager customer and community Katherine Gee said their numbers showed 2,104 houses had used 1,000 litres or less water over a 90-day period.

Ms Gee added: 'It is important to note that it cannot be categorically stated that these properties are 'vacant'.

'We operate in a desirable region and some of these properties may be holiday homes or homes that are occupied for only parts of the year.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10929163/More-80-000-homes-not-leased-Queensland-despite-rental-squeeze.html