Increases to income and price thresholds for First Home Grant
Since 1 April 2021, more New Zealanders can qualify for government assistance to buy their first home. Income thresholds for singles applying for the First Home Grant have increased from $85,000 pa to $95,000 pa as well as an increase for a couple’s combined income from $130,000 pa to $150,000 pa.
Similarly, the price thresholds for both new homes and existing homes in many areas of the country have also been increased. With the rapid rise in house prices leaving the scheme’s original house price caps desperately out of kilter from the real-time housing market, first home buyers have suffered. Some had to rely on parents for additional funding or others have been completely priced out of their local housing market where prices had risen well above the threshold for government assistance.
The increases vary between regions and differ depending on whether you are looking to buy a new or existing home. There is a full list of the changes to the house price thresholds in your region here. With more people now being eligible to apply for the First Home Grant to subsidise the purchase of their first home, we hope that more Kiwis will get the assistance they need to help get them on the property ladder.
Housing Acceleration Fund
Property developers will also get a helping hand from the government’s housing package. A $3.8 billion boost to development has been announced and will subsidise the cost of providing services and infrastructure to ‘build-ready’ land. In subsidising these significant upfront costs which often slow housing development, the government hopes to increase the supply of a range of affordable, public and mixed housing.
The Housing Acceleration Fund is available to a range of key stakeholders in both the private and public sector but it will rely on local government playing its part in opening up suitable land to allow more housing development projects to take place. Developers involved in housing development should speak to their local council first for more information about whether they are eligible for assistance from the fund or for what stages of housing development the fund is available.
Kāinga Ora Land Acquisition
The government continues to support affordable housing by lending Kāinga Ora an additional $2 billion to assist with land acquisition for social housing development projects. The increased capital is expected to see the rate of acquisition of land increase which, along with the funding boost for development of public and mixed housing, aims to increase the supply of housing across the country.
Apprenticeship Boost
Finally, the apprenticeship subsidy scheme (Apprenticeship Boost) is extended for a further four months. Employers taking on apprentices can access a $1,000 per week wage subsidy for first year apprentices and $500 for second year. This extension will help ensure that enough skilled tradespeople are trained to take advantage of the government’s plans to increase housing supply by not only enabling a greater workforce to achieve the government’s affordable housing goals, but also by providing private developers with a sufficient pool of skilled workers to draw on to keep up with housing demand.
Whether you are a first home buyer trying to find your feet in the property market, a property developer looking for a financial boost to kick-start your latest housing development project or an employer with apprentices, the government’s housing package will help address the supply issues affecting the housing market and will give a financial leg-up for those working to increase supply.
DISCLAIMER: All the information published in Property Speaking is true and accurate to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It should not be a substitute for legal advice. No liability is assumed by the authors or publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this newsletter. Views expressed are those of individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of this firm. Articles appearing in Property Speaking may be reproduced with prior approval from the editor and credit given to the source. Copyright, NZ LAW Limited, 2021. Editor: Adrienne Olsen. E-mail: adrienne@adroite.co.nz. Ph: 029 286 3650.
