Facebook news feeds lit up with cries of "outrageous," "disgraceful," and the more dejected, "lol, we don't stand a chance."

Upon her swearing in on Monday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared housing affordability among the three key priorities of her new government.

Ms Berejiklian said it was "the biggest concern people have across the state," and that she was "open minded to seeking advice of people outside the government, outside the bureaucracy, outside elected officials…" to tackle the issue.

Outside the hallowed halls of Macquarie Street, those at the bottom of the housing food chain have their own ideas on what needs to change.

"I think we need to increase housing supply by reforming the planning system and controls to be proactive, instead of reactive," said 29-year-old Joss Engebretsen.

"And to modify tenancy laws to make it more acceptable to access longer-term lease agreements, of up to seven years, to give those who ... live in an area they can't afford to buy, security of tenure over their home."

Twenty-year-old Sophia Hatzis is content living with her parents in Manly while she completes her studies, but said once she moves out, it is realistic she will be renting "for the rest of [her] life".

"I think we certainly need to subsidise for young people ... obviously we are behind the eight ball. How are we supposed to compete with people who have savings, property and investments?"

Jerome Doraisamy, 29, said the mere fact Ms Berejiklian was discussing housing affordability for young people was a positive step, and made his own suggestion for potential solutions.

"What if employers were able to set up a system where persons of our demographic could salary sacrifice into a home owner's account to allow them to save for a house?" he said.

"It would be a relatively simple solution to allow people to put money aside and not touch it, in the same way as we do with superannuation."

An alternative solution, he said, could be an exemption for young first home buyers, allowing them to redirect some of their HECS debt towards a property.

For 28-year-old James Hyde, negative gearing remained the biggest issue.

"Investment properties shouldn't be incentivised as long as people attempting to become first home owners can't get into the market. If you've got the money to own multiple properties, that's fine, but then you shouldn't get tax breaks," he said.

State Planning Minister Rob Stokes has argued the federal government should curb negative gearing concessions that benefit investors and hurt first home buyers, but on Tuesday Ms Berejiklian would not be drawn on whether she supported Mr Stokes' position.

"Negative gearing is a Commonwealth issue – but as a state government we will be looking at all options available to us to make a difference," she said.