To be honest, five year standard leasing models would probably buckle very quickly under economic and social pressures.

The first and biggest obstacle is that landlords are very, very wary of leasing new tenants for longer than 6 months to start with, especially when it comes to first time renters or renters without solid rental history (for example, a renter who moved out of home, then moved back in again).

Even after the first six, it's difficult to get landlords to sign on for more than another six months for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason, and honestly the worst reason, is because in urban centers they want the opportunity to jack up the rent by $10-20 whenever they reasonable can.

And then we come to the irresponsibility of an absurd amount of landlords across Australia. It is an uphill battle to get a landlord to do anything regarding maintenance of a property. I have yet to have a straightforward request fulfilled, and have yet to have anything done without putting pressure on the real estate or landlord to sort it out. Anything from roof damage due to storms to broken ovens and stove tops to faulty wiring to broken sewage lines to any of the more menial tasks.

And then there are problems with the landlords themselves not understanding lease agreements and tenant's rights, and then becoming aggressive and hostile when confronted about it.

On that front of five year standard leases, I don't doubt for a second, would see a sharp rise in small claims hearings where tenants want to vacate early explicitly because of their landlord.

Add to that the way jobs are at the moment, where job security isn't exactly high? If a person loses their job and winds up on $620 a fortnight for a place that costs $300+ a week? Major city prices aren't a joke.

I just don't see how any of this is going to improve unless rental prices are forced down, or welfare is beefed right up to a proper, livable, income. Or both. Or all the other costs of living take a sharp nose dive.