The Tasmanian majority Liberal Government continues to use the benefits of a strong economy to deliver on its multi-faceted plan to build more housing for Tasmanians in need.
Today, we announce a major policy that provides certainty over the long term for our Community Housing sector and increases the supply of social housing for people on our housing register.
The Tasmanian Government will extend its current agreements with four Community Housing Providers through to 2040, providing long term certainty for the sector.
We will also transfer the management of a further 2000 Housing Tasmania-owned properties, which means Community Housing Providers will access an extra $6 million of revenue through Commonwealth Rent Assistance each year.
This additional revenue will see an estimated 700 new social and affordable houses delivered over the term of the agreements (subject to final agreements) while also meaning that the properties that are transferred will receive upgrades sooner.
We are also announcing additional funding to deliver more social housing now, with a further $22 million being invested into Community Housing grants over the next three years delivering an estimated 220 new houses for people on the housing register.
This is in addition to the $12 million capital grants announced in December and is on top of the work already underway as part of our Affordable Action Plan.
This additional $34 million investment into social housing has been made possible because of the historic agreement that was signed last September with the Federal Housing Minister to wipe Tasmania’s housing related debt to the Commonwealth.
The Government will also do more to support people into affordable home ownership by increasing the Government’s maximum contribution under its HomeShare program from $83,000 to $100,000.
This increase reflects the changing conditions in Tasmania’s housing market and will result in eligible HomeShare recipients remaining competitive in the market while also saving more in mortgage repayments.
The Government can also announce that we are extending the $20,000 First Home Owners Grant and continuing the stamp duty concession for eligible pensioners downsizing their home and for first home buyers of established homes until June 2022.
Not only will these initiatives help more Tasmanian into a home, but it will also create more jobs in the construction and housing sector, many of these in regional communities.
The Tasmanian majority Liberal Government is proud to announce this suite of initiatives which provides certainty for the future of key sectors within our community and delivers more new and social housing at a time that it is needed.