HOUSING organisations and independent politicians are urging the Senate to pass the build-to-rent bill, as new research shows housing affordability is a priority for voters.
Almost eight in 10 Australians (79%) say there is a lack of affordable housing in their area, with the issue charting as people’s second-highest concern, a YouGov poll for the Property Council of Australia has found.
The poll found respondents were most concerned about the cost of living, with the economy and health care ranked third and fourth respectively.
The property council and the National Shelter and Community Housing Industry Association said 105,000 new homes could be delivered across the next decade – including 10,500 affordable rentals – if build-to-rent legislation was passed with their proposed changes.
The groups are calling for three amendments to the bill – to adjust tax settings to encourage build-to-rent housing growth; refine the 10% affordable housing requirement within projects; and introduce measures to enhance the security of tenure for renters.
The YouGov poll found most (61%) respondents supported a bill with these additional incentives, while only 13% opposed the proposal.
Property council chief executive Mike Zorbas said the government must seize the opportunity to address the housing shortage.
“With the right amendments, this legislation is the best and cheapest way for the federal parliament to add 105,000 new rental homes to supply across Australia over the next decade,” he said.
The Albanese government is trying to push forward legislation that would secure tax incentives for developers and financiers that put properties up for rent instead of selling them off.
However, the legislation has stalled in the Senate due to opposition from the coalition and the Greens.
With the upcoming sitting week the third-last of 2024, a group of independent MPs and senators hopes the impasse can be resolved before the end of the year.
“We’ve got two more weeks left this year to get this done,” senator Jacqui Lambie said last week.
“This polling backs up what Australians have been telling me – they are sick and tired of the Greens and the Coalition holding up action on housing for those Aussies who most need it.”
The sentiment was echoed by Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender, who said building more houses was the only long-term solution to the housing crisis – and “build-to-rent is a part of that”.
“It’s time that the Greens and the Liberal National parties stopped blocking constructive housing policy,” she said.
“My community wants action, not politics.”
