In brief:

• The ACT Government is reducing lease variation charges to encourage more social and affordable housing to be built.
• Lease variation charges apply when changing a crown lease to build or add a development.
• Community Housing Providers and developers can access these reductions if their project meets eligibility criteria.

The ACT Government is making housing more accessible for those who need it most. Lease variation charges will be reduced to encourage more social and affordable housing across Canberra.

In the ACT, you need to pay a lease variation charge if you want to change your crown lease to build or add a development. The amount you need to pay depends on the change you've asked for.

Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and private developers can access these reductions if their project includes at least 10 homes and if 15 per cent or more are social or affordable rentals.

Registered CHPs can receive savings of up to $250,000 per social or affordable home. Private developers can receive up to $100,000 per social or affordable home.

Reforms to increase housing supply

These changes build on laws passed last year that protect public and community housing projects from third party appeals. This helps reduce delays and makes it easier to build homes for people who need them most.

The changes will also help CHPs take advantage of the Australian Government’s recently opened Housing Australia Future Fund – Round 3.

More accessible housing options

The reforms support the ACT Government’s goal to deliver 30,000 new homes by 2030, including 5,000 public, community and affordable homes.

The ACT Government has committed to working with industry to get more homes built and will continue to explore further lease variation charge, regulatory and legislative reforms to increase housing supply for future generations.

Read more about the lease variation charge reductions for social and affordable housing on the ACT Government website.

Find information about housing options and services available to you at act.gov.au/homes

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