New build-to-rent project gets green light in WA

According to a statement, it will deliver 219 new apartments made up of 66 social, 44 affordable, 98 market and 11 specialist disability accommodation options located on the outskirts of Perth’s CBD.

Housing Australia, formerly the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, has revealed it will provide a loan of around $73 million via the National Housing Infrastructure facility (NHIF) to get the project off the ground, with $15.6 million in grants. The Western Australian government will also contribute more than $40 million to the project.

Housing Australia CEO Nathan Dal Bon said “this funding commitment is Housing Australia’s largest in WA to date”.

Upon completion, Housing Choices WA will purchase and manage the building, with funding from Super Housing Partnerships.

Housing Choices will then manage the mixed tenure development.

Mr Dal Bon said that the organisation works closely with all levels of government, community housing providers and the private sector to facilitate, fund and deliver programs that help more people access safe and secure housing.

He said the project is “a wonderful example of how this type of collaboration can grow the supply of well-located, quality social and affordable housing”.

According to Super Housing Partnerships executive director Kris Daff, “almost every day, the media reports that different parts of our communities face housing distress and otherwise find locating suitable rental accommodation very challenging”.

The targeted cohorts for the social and affordable components of the project include elderly women most at risk of homelessness and singles and families on very low and low-moderate incomes. It also will be open to people working at nearby schools, hospitals and major police and emergency services precincts, and key retail workers.

“This project takes us one step closer to ensuring that all Australians have access to safe, secure and appropriate housing choices,” Mr Daff said.