The Greens put housing affordability at the centre of the election campaign today with a plan to deliver 85,000 new rental homes and ease the pressure on Australian renters.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam - who is also a renter - said the almost one in three Australians who rent have been ignored by the old parties.

"The old parties need to face the facts - Australia is now a nation of renters. There are 2.4 million households in one of the most stretched rental markets in the world. Renters shouldn't be treated like second class citizens.