News

“Australia will be dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on its housing markets for some time as increased construction costs and a reduced appetite for risk impede new housing supply,” says Professor Steven Rowley, lead author of new AHURI research released today. 

The study, ‘Financing first home ownership: modelling policy impacts at market and individual levels’, undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Curtin University, University of Sydney and RMIT University, modelled the relationships between different housing finance conditions and people’s ability to buy their first home.

Is build-to-rent the next big thing? Can it provide affordable housing? Improved tax benefits for Build-to-rent housing developments were announced in the 2023 Commonwealth Budget and welcomed by many in the housing sector.

The 2023 Commonwealth Budget includes a number of items targeted at improving rental affordability for lower income renters; supporting lower income home buyers; increasing supply of social and affordable rental housing; and for people experiencing homelessness.

While new laws came into effect this week requiring all new housing to have a 7-star energy efficiency rating, our nation’s ageing social housing stock remains among the least energy efficient of all homes in Australia, contributing to significant carbon emissions. Many social housing providers have retrofitting projects that aim to improve energy efficiency and physical and mental health outcomes for the occupants of these homes, however new AHURI research reveals a disconnect between the focus of these projects and the upgrades residents would prefer.