Pollster Kos Samaras spends hundreds of hours gathering the opinions of everyday Australians to paint a picture of the national mood.

But he says this picture gets warped by politicians who live and die by the two-party preferred poll numbers and the 24-hour news cycle.

The rental crisis in Australia shows no signs of slowing – rents have spiralled and many tenants are at breaking point. But in a country where renters have been overlooked, is there political will to address rising rents? And would capping rents actually even work?

Today, former Labor campaign strategist turned pollster, and director of the Redbridge Group, Kos Samaras, on why the major parties could face a rebellion from voters if they ignore renters any longer.