Helping more Canberrans with housing affordability and services

The ACT Government believes every Canberran deserves secure and affordable housing that suits their needs. That is why the 2018 Budget delivers new support to help Canberrans find the right place to call home.

We are delivering better help for first home buyers and giving seniors more options to manage their housing costs. We are also making priority investments to improve housing choices for Canberrans on low incomes and those with complex needs.

Better help for first home buyers

The 2018 Budget will make it easier for more Canberrans to own their own home.

From 1 July 2019, first home buyers with a household income below $160,000 will pay no stamp duty – whether they are buying an established property or a newly built home.

This will fully abolish stamp duty for any type of property, and at any purchase price, for eligible first home buyers.

Supporting senior homeowners

We have heard the community’s feedback about the need to help Canberra’s older homeowners with their cost of living.

The 2018 Budget will expand the general rates deferral scheme so that anyone aged over 65 who has at least 75 per cent equity in their property can take advantage of it.

Having the option to defer their annual general rates will help older Canberrans unlock the benefits of rising property prices while ageing in place.  

More housing options and targeted support

The ACT Government is working with the housing sector and the Canberra community to make sure housing is affordable and services keep up with our city’s growth.

That will come together in the new housing strategy that will be released in late 2018, laying out the next phase of the ACT Government’s investment in public, community and affordable housing. We are also getting on with delivering some priority investments through the 2018 Budget, including:

• Land release for 17,000 new homes in the next four years
• Delivering on our commitment to build a second culturally-appropriate housing complex for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans, adding up to 10 more homes
• Planning and design for a second Common Ground accommodation facility in Dickson, providing specialist support to people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness
• Establishing three community-based mental health accommodation facilities to provide long-term supported care for people who need 24-hour support
• Reducing heating bills and gas emissions through energy efficiency upgrades in public housing
• Delivering 36 more places for women and families seeking safe accommodation through services like the Beryl and Doris women’s shelters, and extending OneLink’s operating hours to improve coordination of services and responsiveness to people seeking support.

We want all Canberrans to experience the security and stability of a home that suits their needs. We will keep investing to work towards this goal as our city grows.

Media contact: Mark Paviour     0466 521 634     mark.paviour@act.gov.au