A new path to home ownership for Australia’s ‘forever renters’: how NSW could lead the way

Join our webinar to learn about an exciting new housing model that could unlock home ownership for more Australians while also benefiting institutional investors and developers. 

Housing affordability in Australia is at its worst level on record. The continued increase in housing prices has shut many out of the market, particularly younger people and those on lower incomes. The result is a fast-growing population of ‘forever renters’, many of whom are struggling in a notoriously insecure private rental market.  

But what if there was a different way for these Australians to become homeowners, one that would allow long-term renters to affordably acquire and grow an ownership stake in their rental properties, without needing a deposit or bank loan?  

Researchers from the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures and the Centre for Indigenous People and Work have consulted with community and cooperative housing providers, superannuation funds, banking, property and housing experts, private and state-owned build-to-rent developers, councils and policymakers, to develop a ‘build-to-rent-to-own’ model that aims to address the problem of ‘forever renters’ and create new opportunities for investors and developers.  

Hear more about the model, how it was developed, and how it can be put into practice, at our special event.  

This research was supported by the Australian Public Policy Institute (formerly James Martin Institute) through the James Martin Institute’s Policy Challenge, a program supporting research that tackles the biggest policy challenges in NSW.    

Speakers 

Caitlin McGee is a Research Director at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures. Her research focuses on sustainable, climate resilient, affordable and community-led housing. 

Gordon Noble is a Research Director at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures focused on sustainable finance.