CHC Australia welcomes the ACT Government’s announcement today to reduce lease variation charges (LVC) for developments that deliver social and affordable housing, describing the change as a transformative initiative that will accelerate the delivery of new homes for Canberrans under rental pressure.
Under the new settings, projects of at least 10 homes and where 15 per cent or more of these include social or affordable rentals will be eligible.
For Community Housing Provider (CHP)-owned and managed homes, the Government will reduce LVC charges by up to $250,000 per dwelling, or up to $100,000 per eligible dwelling for projects not owned by a registered CHP.
CHC Australia CEO Nathan Dal Bon said: “We welcome the ACT Government’s LVC reforms and the legislation that underpins them. This initiative will substantially improve the feasibility of new housing projects and strengthen our ability to deliver more long-term social and affordable rental homes for Canberrans who need them.”
Today’s changes follow legislation passed last year that removes third-party appeals to the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal for public and community housing proposals, with CHP’s benefitting from the same appeal exemptions as public housing. The ACT Planning (Territory Priority Project) Amendments Bill 2025 applies to registered CHP projects generally capped at 100 dwellings with at least 15 per cent community housing.
“The Priority Project changes have already improved certainty for registered community housing providers. Coupled with today’s LVC reforms, the ACT is using two levers — greater planning certainty and enhanced project feasibility — to help get more homes built and give tenants faster access to stable, affordable housing,” Mr. Dal Bon said.
CHC Australia said the reforms supported the ACT Government’s broader housing goal of 30,000 new homes by 2030, including 5,000 public, community and affordable homes.
About CHC Australia
CHC Australia is dedicated to enabling more people to live in safe, quality and affordable homes. The Tier 1 registered Community Housing Provider, operating for more than 25 years, is the largest provider of affordable and social housing based in Canberra. CHC Australia delivers tenancy management, property management, client services, community development and affordable home ownership.