Housing Australia: rent, buy, build

Every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head, because a secure home is the foundation for a better future. We’re working hard to make renting fairer, build more homes, and make it easier to buy your own home.

On this page

  1. A better deal for renters
  2. Help to buy
  3. Building more homes
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A better deal for renters

Where you rent is your home, and it should feel like it. We’re delivering a better deal for renters and greater security in your lease.

We're providing the largest increase to rent assistance in more than 30 years. Find out more about how to apply for Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

We’re working with state and territory governments to deliver a better deal for renters. National Cabinet has agreed to better protect renters against evictions, limit rent increases to once a year, limit break lease fees and more.

We’re building more affordable and social rental homes, with an additional $2 billion in financing for community housing providers in the budget, on top of the $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator. And we’ve made up to $575 million available for affordable and social homes by widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

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Help to buy

Our Help to Buy Scheme will start nationwide, next year. We will provide a contribution of up to 40% for 40,000 low and middle income families to purchase a home of their own. Read more about the Help to Buy Scheme.

We’ve also expanded Home Guarantee Scheme eligibility with 50,000 new places available, helping more Australians into their own home. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply through the Eligibility tool.

And we established the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee 3 months early, helping regional Australians purchase a home with as little as a 5% deposit and avoid paying Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance. Find out more about the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee and how you can access it.

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Building more homes

The best way to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home is to boost housing supply. That’s why National Cabinet has agreed to an ambitious new national target to build 1.2 million new homes over 5 years, and we’re providing $3.5 billion to help get there.

Through National Cabinet, states and territories committed to change planning laws to build more homes closer to where people want to live and work. It’ll mean people can be closer to public transport and reliable services and connected to their friends and family.

We're providing incentives to increase build-to-rent accommodation, and as part of the National Housing Accord, we'll also build an additional 10,000 affordable rental homes.

On top of this, our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund will build 30,000 affordable and social homes, including homes for women and children fleeing domestic violence, older women at risk of homelessness and frontline workers.

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