WA Backs Build-to-Rent with 50pc Land Tax Break

Developers will receive a 50 per cent land tax discount for build-to-rent projects in Western Australia’s budget released on Thursday. 

WA’s state budget earmarked a total of $408 million for housing and homelessness policies with $350 million spent on building housing in remote Aboriginal communities.

Several other policies to allieviate financial stress for builders and homeowners and address housing supply issues were also announced. 

Western Australia’s housing and homelessness minister John Carey said there was a need to increase the supply of rental housing and that build-to-rent projects were not that common in the state.

"We’re continuing our significant reforms to housing delivery in Western Australia, with a 50 per cent cut to land tax to promote build-to-rent developments, a housing option that is well-established in other parts of Australia but less used in WA,” Carey said.

The budget also includes a new Keystart program to help low and middle income earners buy units in developments close to key transport hubs and links in inner-city Perth and Metronet precincts. 

The state government has also permanently increased the income eligibility limits for the Keystart program to $105,000 for singles and $155,000 for couples and families. 

The state budget also included a $30-million scheme to help builders struggling with the effects of the pandemic and the Ukrainian conflict as supplies decrease and their costs increase. 

The financial relief scheme will apply to head contractors on Department of Finance and Department of Communities projects.

▲ WA"s Premier and Treasurer Mark McGowan has announced a 50 per cent land tax discount for developers working on build-to-rent apartment projects in a bid to address demand for rental accommodation. Source: WA Government

WA’s premier and treasurer Mark McGowan said all construction projects were affected by supply chain disruptions.

"Both private and public construction projects are being impacted by global supply pressures putting upward pressure on input costs and tight labour market conditions, with the unemployment rate at the lowest level in years,” McGowan said.

There will also be $1.5 million spent on attracting building and construction workers from the United Kingdom and Ireland and the state government will request that the federal government place building and construction workers on the priority skilled occupations migration list.

The state government will also ask major banks to be flexible with financing and will, where possible, implement rise and fall clauses in future government contracts.

The Keystart program will also include a fifth payment phase to get payment to builders faster and a Department of Communities prequalification panel to assess contractors.

WA homeowners will also get a 30-month extension on Building Bonus grants to help with construction delays. 

WA’s finance minister Tony Buti said both builders and owners were facing financial stress.

“Customers and industry in the building and construction sector have faced uncertainty over these global issues, and we're doing what we can to alleviate some pressure,” Buti said.

“For home builders, we're enabling a further 12 months for construction to start on new builds for the $20,000 payment.

“This will assist up to around 2,500 outstanding applicants who may be impacted by building delays.”