Homes for Queenslanders
Queenslanders are experiencing significant pressures associated with housing availability and affordability, underpinned by all- time high housing demand surpassing supply.
Record low interest rates, substantial government stimulus and a decrease in the average household size during the pandemic, followed by an unexpected and record increase in the population, drove a surge in demand for housing in Queensland in recent years.
However, construction activity has struggled to keep up with demand, significantly constrained by pandemic-related material and labour shortages, poor weather and flooding, and construction company insolvencies. Rental supply conditions have remained extremely tight, with the vacancy rate hovering around only 1 per cent over the past 2 years.
The Queensland Government is continuing its commitment to ensure that every Queenslander has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home that meets their needs and enables participation in the social and economic life of this prosperous state.
To meet this objective, the government launched its new whole-of-system housing plan, Homes for Queenslanders. As part of this plan, the government is making a $3.1 billion investment into housing and homelessness initiatives.
Homes for Queenslanders is centred around 5 key pillars:
Build more homes, faster
More Queensland homes need to be built, in the right locations, and they need to be built faster. Homes for Queenslanders includes a target of one million new homes by 2046, including 53,500 new social homes. With 95 per cent of the state’s housing supply being delivered by the private sector, collaboration among government, the private sector and the community sector is needed to reach this goal.
Initiatives include:
- a $350 million fund to incentivise infill development to support delivery of new housing in the right locations
- a new state facilitated development team to streamline decisions and quickly resolve planning and infrastructure issues delaying new homes, including social and affordable homes
- $12.5 million of targeted, needs-based funding for local governments to facilitate strategic planning and updating of their planning schemes
- a new Distinctly Queensland Design Series, which will provide clear requirements, that when met, expedite the delivery of new homes with a focus on gentle density products that are viable.
Support Queensland renters
As Queensland changes, so too does our housing system. More people are renting – and for longer than ever before. The Queensland Government is supporting renters with reforms to improve the experience of renting, as well as products and services to help renters who are struggling.
Initiatives include:
- a $160 million Renters Relief Package to give more households immediate cost-of-living support while new homes are being built, including help to pay bonds and rent
- reforming rental laws to protect renters’ rights, including banning all forms of rent bidding.
Help first homeowners into the market
Over the past 8 years, the government has supported 69,000 first home buyers with homeowner grants.
To support more first homeowners, the grant has been doubled to $30,000 for new homes until 30 June 2025. This is the equal most generous scheme in the country. By targeting it at new homes, the government also encourages more supply into the market to make housing more affordable in the long term.
The Queensland Government is committed to make the housing system fairer and close the gap for First Nations peoples in urban, regional, and remote areas. Backed by a $61.3 million investment, the Our Place Action Plan brings together a suite of actions that address systemic challenges and respond to the unique cultural strengths, values, and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.
Other initiatives include:
- supporting social housing tenants to own their own home through the Sales to Tenants program
- working with the Australian Government to implement the Help to Buy scheme, which will make it easier for up to 40,000 low and middle income families around Australia to buy a home
- supporting Queenslanders in regional and remote locations by temporarily raising the income eligibility threshold for the Queensland Housing Finance Loan.
The 2024–25 Budget also includes new revenue initiatives aimed at providing relief for first home buyers. Eligibility for the transfer duty first home concession will be extended to homes with a dutiable value up to $800,000, increased from $550,000 currently. First home buyers will pay no duty on homes valued up to $700,000 and will receive a partial concession up to $800,000.
In addition, eligibility for the transfer duty first home vacant land concession will be extended to vacant land with a dutiable value up to $500,000, increased from $400,000 currently.
These changes will increase the maximum value of the first home concession by $8,600 (to a total of $17,350) and the maximum value of the first home vacant land concession by $3,500 (to a total of $10,675).
It is estimated the changes to the first home buyer concessions will benefit around 10,000 first home buyers per year.
Boost our social housing Big Build
The Queensland Government has set a bold social housing delivery target of 53,500 homes by 2046. Through this target, the needs of vulnerable Queenslanders are being addressed with a pipeline of:
- 8 new youth foyers to provide stable housing and support for young people who are studying or working
- 10 new or replaced domestic and family violence shelters to provide immediate safety and protection for women and children
- 1,200 social homes for First Nations families through partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander local government authorities and communities
- more supported accommodation places across the state for people experiencing homelessness.
The Queensland Government will continue to work with the Australian Government and the community housing sector to deliver the homes Queenslanders need.
Work towards ending homelessness
Homes for Queenslanders strengthens the safety net the Queensland Government has put in place to help Queenslanders avoid homelessness. The Queensland Government is ramping up its efforts with more funding for specialist homelessness services, more emergency accommodation in the regions, and more help for First Nations peoples and young people.
The Queensland Government is backing frontline specialist homelessness services with a 20 per cent funding boost to increase their capacity while an independent review of the state’s overall homelessness response is undertaken.
For more information about Homes for Queenslanders, please visit the website www.housing.qld.gov.au/homesforqueenslanders.
