Perth buyers camp outside a Burns Beach sales office as housing crunch fuels fierce scramble for scarce land

As Perth’s housing crisis deepens, hopeful buyers are going to extreme lengths to secure land.

A small group has set up camp outside a northern suburbs sales office, queuing day and night ahead of a land release this weekend — a sign of just how competitive the city’s property market has become.

About half a dozen buyers have been sleeping outside the office to secure a place at the front of the queue for the release of just nine lots, available only in person from midday on Saturday on a first-come, first-served basis.

One buyer at the front of the line, who did not want to be identified, said the conditions had been challenging.

“We’ve been lucky there’s been a bit of a breeze, but it’s still quite hot,” they said.

Developer Peet allowed the group temporary access to air-conditioning during the day, but campers were required to return outside overnight.

“We’re quite privileged to be able to be here and have the opportunity to try and get land,” the buyer said.

While unusual today, such scenes are not without precedent. During Perth’s land shortages two decades ago, buyers were known to camp in queues for weeks at a time.

The Property Council of Australia has warned Western Australia is falling behind its housing targets, with the State about 4,500 homes short and dwelling completions at their lowest level since 2014.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas seized on the figures during a visit to Beaconsfield, criticising the State Government over stalled housing developments.

“They are not very good at their jobs in this space — they have let the people of Western Australia down,” Mr Zempilas said.

Standing on land earmarked for future housing in 2017, he questioned the lack of progress.

“Where are they, Minister?” he said.

The Government has defended its record, saying delays at sites such as Beaconsfield were partly due to the need to relocate social housing tenants before older, often rundown, dwellings could be demolished.

Back at the northern suburbs sales office, Peet said it was open to feedback but remained committed to what it described as a fair and transparent process.

The company said customers valued clearly understanding their place in a queue and encouraged those camping to prioritise shade, water and sun protection.

Peet also flagged another land release next month for buyers willing to brave the queue.