National Rental Affordability Scheme

The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) is an Australian Government initiative to stimulate the supply of new affordable rental dwellings.

The Scheme offers annual incentives for ten years (indexed annually to the rental component of the CPI).

The two key elements of the incentive are:[1]

  • A Commonwealth Government Incentive currently of $8,335.75 per dwelling per year as a refundable tax offset or payment; and
  • A State or Territory Government Incentive currently of $2,778.58 per dwelling per year in direct or in kind financial support.

The Incentive is provided annually for ten years and is indexed based upon the rental component of the CPI index. The most recent increase was 0.6%.[citation needed]

Incentives are provided on the condition that throughout the ten-year period the dwelling is rented at least 20 per cent below the market rate to eligible low and moderate income households.[2]

The Department of Social Services (Australia) is responsible for the implementation and ongoing management of NRAS, in consultation with the Australian Taxation Office.

In addition to this, many State and Local Governments have provided planning incentives where NRAS approved dwellings are to be built.[3]

Currently, housing affordability is a problem in Australia.[4] For society to function people need to live affordably in or around areas where they work. Key workers such as nurses, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, ambulance operators and other members of society need to be able to access housing which is affordable. This generally means that they do not spend more than 30% of their household income on rent.[citation needed]

The incentive is available to nearly all dwelling types such as houses, apartments, villas, flats and town houses.[5] This first incentives were paid annually from a period beginning 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009, in what is referred to as an NRAS Year, which offsets the financial year by two months.[6] Payments based on the NRAS Year will continue until 2026.[2]

Rental eligibility

The Commonwealth has identified 1.5 million Australian households as eligible for assistance under the NRAS Scheme.[7]

Household type Initial income
limit $		 Upper income
limit $
One adult 42,718 53,398
2 adults 59,057 73,822
3 adults 75,396 94,245
4 adults 91,735 114,669
Sole parent with 1 child 59,099 73,874
Sole parent with 2 children 73,267 91,584
Sole parent with 3 children 87,435 109,294
Couple with 1 child 73,225 91,532
Couple with 2 children 87,393 109,242
Couple with 3 children 101,561 126,952

Mandatory requirements

Mandatory requirements include:

  • Dwellings will be rented to ‘eligible tenants’.
  • Dwellings will be rented for a maximum period of 10 years.
  • Dwellings will be rented at a rate that is at least 20% below market rate.
  • Dwellings must either:
    • not have been lived in as a residence or
    • not have been lived in as a residence since having been made fit for occupancy where otherwise the dwelling was recognised as being uninhabitable or
    • if it has been converted to create additional residences, then a part of the dwelling or building that is capable of being lived in as a separate residence must not have been lived in as a separate residence.
  • Dwellings will comply with State, Territory and Local Government planning and building codes and requirements.[7]

Recent developments

Subsequent to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods, Julia Gillard proposed a temporary levy that would raise $1.8 billion to help pay for the reconstruction of roads, rail and bridges in damaged areas and take effect from 1 July 2011.[8][9] Part of her proposal included cutting 15,000 dwellings from the NRAS, but the Australian Greens negotiated with the Government, which secured the dwellings and restored $264 million to NRAS.[10]

References

  1. ^ Australian Department of Social Services. "National Rental Affordability Scheme".
  2. ^ a b "'Eye-watering': Map shows big housing issue". The West Australian. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  3. ^ NSW Department of Planning & Environment. "Affordable Rental Housing (SEPP)".
  4. ^ "House price rises to weather rate hikes: report". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 January 2010.
  5. ^ Australian Department of Social Services (15 May 2015). "National Rental Affordability Scheme".
  6. ^ "NRAS Tax Free Incentive Payments for Investors". Affinity Property. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b Australian Attorney Generals Department (2008). "National Rental Affordability Scheme Prospectus" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Gillard announces levy to pay for flood damage". 27 January 2011.
  9. ^ "NBN tops levy as legislative priority". The Australian. 2 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Senate debates, Questions Without Notice". 23 June 2011.