Experts say home rental income in Perth has not budged since March despite rising costs for landlords.
Property research firm RP Data said the median house rental price was $380 a week in the quarter to June 30, with the price for units at $330.
Real Estate Institute of WA president Alan Bourke said the State had an almost two-year-long plateau in rental prices. He said a vacancy rate of about 3 per cent struck about the right balance between supply and demand, but the rate now was about 4.5 per cent, which put downwards pressure on rent.
"So far we've not had many decreases in rent and what that might be in part is that we have had a few interest rate rises, so owner-investors need to pay the bank more," he said.
Dianella landlord and Professionals property manager Lauren Musca, who owns two investment properties with her sister and her husband, said she was getting the same amount of income for her properties as she was a year ago, but mortgage payments had increased significantly.
"Another interest rate rise would be difficult, but I suppose we just have to cut back on other areas," she said.
Ms Musca said conditions had changed since Perth's property boom, when prospective tenants were offering well above the asking price just to get into a house.
"We've just had a changeover of tenants and we had to get someone in there quickly at whatever rent they were offering just so we didn't have a vacancy period," she said.
"Our advice to property managers for landlords is that to get a good long-term tenant you need to offer something special - throw in the DVD and the microwave in the deal."