The WA Government has joined the scramble for builders, calling for tenders for 14 build-to-rent projects that would deliver more than 1100 homes around Perth.
Half of the projects are next to new Metronet stations at Ellenbrook, Cannington, Midland, Redcliffe and Ballajura.
The others are at Wellard, Woodbridge, White Gum Valley, Rivervale, Butler, Subiaco, Bassendean, Kelmscott and the Perth City Link.
Up to 1145 homes are planned across three to nine-storey buildings that would comprise about 80 per cent affordable and 20 per cent social housing.
Finding the builder will, however, be no mean feat for the state.
The new HIA Trades Report for the first quarter of 2025 found Perth had the most acute shortage of skills trades in the country.
HIA chief economist Tim Reardon said excluding the extremes of the pandemic, one would have to go back to before the Global Financial Crisis to find trade shortages as severe.
“Home building is set to gain momentum across Australia as interest rates fall, and this will further add to demand for skilled labour,” Reardon said.
“Activity has already been increasing in WA, Queensland and SA on the back of strong population growth, low unemployment, tight rental markets and rising prices, and recovering real incomes.
“The result of these shortages is that the price of trades has increased again by 5.5 per cent in the 12 months to March 2025, compared to the broader Australian wage growth closer to 3 per cent.
“An increase in home building will further add to demand for skilled labour and put further upward pressure on labour prices.”
The WA build-to-rent projects, to be split across two packages are expected to be awarded to two top-tier apartment builders.
The call for tenders is the next step of a $443-million housing initiative by the state and federal governments’ Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and the National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF).
The homes would be sold to community housing providers, who will be able to access concessional loans from the HAFF and NHAF.
The providers may also be able to apply for senior debt through the Housing Australia Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator and ongoing subsidies to support their repayments over 25 years.
WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the tenders were due close in early June.
“Metronet is the single largest investment in public transport that Perth has seen, and this landmark package is another critical piece of delivering a better-connected city with more transport, housing and employment choices,” Saffioti said.
The buildings must achieve a “silver liveable” level and 7-star NatHERS rates. Tenders close on June 3 and 10 for the two packages.
