This Month
‘Populist’ property tax changes won’t boost rental stock: experts
Higher charges for offshore buyers and a cut in application fees for build-to-rent projects aren’t the main measures Australia’s troubled rental market needs.
- Michael Bleby
October
Developers face uncertainty on thin capitalisation rules
The federal government’s proposed laws to crack down on excessive tax deductions are not fit for purpose, industry figures and independent MPs warn.
- Michael Bleby
Airbnb says Victoria’s 7.5pc levy could push visitors away
The short-stay platform is seeking to influence other states and territories, which are considering measures to ease the rental crisis.
- Michael Bleby
September
Andrews ignored advice to axe stamp duty in housing plan
The state’s 800,000 new home push ignores tax measures that could free up existing housing stock – but that would mean a loss of lucrative stamp duty revenue.
- Michael Bleby
- Updated
- Property Summit
Developers scoff at 1.2m new homes target
Veteran developer Nigel Satterley said Australia could build only 600,000 to 650,000 over the set time frame ‘if we’re lucky’.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Property Summit
Build to rent needs institutional investment, housing minister says
The government’s comments are welcome, but critics say it has done little to create certainty or clarity for investors with reforms already announced.
- Michael Bleby and Nila Sweeney
August
Downsizing – the housing solution that is just too hard
New figures show where Australia’s housing mismatch is greatest. But it’s not clear that this can be fixed before it’s too late.
- Michael Bleby
This trend could help ease the housing crisis – but the taxman says no
Changes to state and federal property taxes could free up under-used housing and ease rents at a time when vacancy rates are still close to record lows.
- Michael Bleby
July
Worse than rate rises: Investors selling to avoid Andrews’ rent plan
Residential landlords such as Carlo Lorusso are thinking about selling their investment properties because of a growing number of restrictive policies in Victoria.
- Nila Sweeney
Owners slam ‘reckless’ Andrews’ rent cap plan
Australia’s largest real estate group warned a plan by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to introduce rental caps and freezes will be make the rental crisis worse.
- Patrick Durkin and Larry Schlesinger
June
Property investors threaten to quit Victoria as housing taxes double
A beach house owner in seaside Portsea could potentially face annual tax increases from about $106,000 to $204,000.
- Duncan Hughes
Rent controls raise ‘political risk’ for investors
Advocates say any curb on rents will push investors away. Housing groups say controls help tenants, but alone won’t solve the rental shortage.
- Michael Bleby
Airbnb pushes state tourism levies over council rate rises
The tech platform wants to make the debate over short-stay rentals into one about revenue for states, rather than a housing issue tackled by local councils.
- Michael Bleby
- Opinion
- Australian economy
How to turn stamp duty into a land tax overnight
There is a way that Australia’s most inefficient tax could be phased out without states losing a lot of revenue upfront.
- Robert Breunig
New investment in build to rent to eclipse offices, logistics by 2030
As traditional for-sale apartment projects struggle to get off the ground, build to rent will also account for an increasing share of apartments.
- Michael Bleby
May
Victoria land tax rise to hit poorer renters, investors say
Higher land tax will hurt owners of lower-priced properties, and the renters who lease them, investors say. Housing advocates say it could boost supply.
- Michael Bleby and Gus McCubbing
Dan Andrews tells investors to claim his new land tax off the feds
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says property investors are entitled to claim deductions under the federal tax system. But it will undermine the federal budget by up to $2.6 billion over the next four years.
- Patrick Durkin and Gus McCubbing
Property owners hit with bill for COVID-19 debt
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas says people with multiple properties should make a “modest” contribution to reduce the state’s pandemic debt.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby
Property Council closes ranks on tax changes
Property leaders agree that boosting supply and overcoming the housing shortfall is the number one challenge. They differ on how to make it happen.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Property market
‘Curb property tax breaks’ to fix affordability
Former Mirvac boss Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, now in an advisory role to the government, favours curbs on negative gearing and capital gains tax deductions.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby, Jennifer Hewett and Phillip Coorey
