It is critical that government and industry continue to work together to ensure build-to-rent schemes become feasible, helping to address the current housing affordability issues in Australia, according to First State Super Chief Investment Officer Damian Graham.

He was speaking ahead of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) ‘Prioritising Social and Affordable Housing’ event on Tuesday. 

"Build-to-rent is popular overseas in countries like the United States, but is still in its early stages in Australia," said Mr Graham.

At a Glance:

• To make build-to-rent more attractive, policy changes needed include: reductions to land tax and additional concessions for density requirements under planning laws
• Australian landscape is difficult for built-to-rent plans, with a higher cost of land holding it back
• First State Super welcomes NSW Government’s cut to land tax for the next 20 years, for new build-to-rent housing projects

"As a major investor in affordable housing First State Super wants to expand our investments in this sector and see the barriers removed to make way for the market to grow.

"Growth in this sector is not as financially viable in Australia as it is internationally due to a number of challenges presented by the Australian financial system with its current tax laws."

Mr Graham said the build-to-rent sector in the United States was significant, largely made possible by the financial system in the US – particularly the banking and debt systems and urged for greater tax incentives in Australia, including GST reform and a reduction in stamp duty.

Mr Graham said additional changes to policy to make build-to-rent more attractive in Australia were needed, including reductions to land tax as well as additional concessions for density requirements under planning laws.

‘In order for build-to-rent projects to be successful there needs to be a reduction in land tax and more release of State and Federal land available for development," said Mr Graham.

"The Australian landscape has proven to be difficult with a higher cost of land holding it back compared to some overseas markets."

Mr Graham said First State Super welcomed the NSW Government’s recent announcement that it would cut land tax for the next 20 years for new build-to-rent housing projects and would give a 50 per cent discount on land tax to developers who invested in build-to-rent schemes.

Additional schemes for build-to-rent housing projects would be welcomed to allow for more investment in this space.

"Now is the opportunity for governments, industry and investors to work together and respond to these challenging issues and allow for more investment opportunities of scale in affordable housing and build-to-rent developments," said Mr Graham.

"First State Super has commenced its first ‘build to rent’ affordable housing project in New South Wales and is interested in expanding its investments across Australia, in addition to other affordable housing initiatives.

"Over the past 12 months First State Super has invested $250 million in key worker affordable housing initiatives in NSW and Victoria; one of the largest commitments of this kind of any Australian super fund."

These key worker affordable housing investments have seen hundreds of new or renovated apartments and units rented to nurses, teachers, police, paramedics, aged and disability support workers and other key workers at 80 per cent of the market rate.

"We know that for many key workers finding safe, secure quality housing near their workplace is a challenge," said Mr Graham.

"These investments support key workers to secure affordable rental accommodation close to work and other important amenities.

"However, they also support our crucial construction sector to maintain jobs and move forward with important projects despite the economic uncertainty."

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