Granny flat grant to relieve housing shortage with people “dying to get into something”
A $10,000 state government grant to build a granny flat on existing properties has been touted as relief for the housing crisis, but some aren’t happy. HOW TO APPLY >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A $10,000 state government grant to build a “granny flat” on existing properties has been touted as relief for the housing crisis, but Labor has deemed it a “drop in the ocean”.
Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing Michael Ferguson said on Monday that 150 applications had been approved for the Ancillary Dwelling Grants Program, which was launched in June last year, and another 100 grants were available with the grant period closing on June 30 this year.
>> SCROLL FOR HOW TO APPLY
“The only way to meet growing pressure and demand in our housing system is to generate more supply,” Mr Ferguson said.
“An ancillary dwelling can be completely detached from the principal building. It could be an internal dwelling set aside within the existing home, or it could be semi-detached.”
Jason Zadow and partner Hannah Graham are recipients of a grant, with a granny flat under construction in their backyard at Ravenswood.
“People out there are dying to get into something and it is good to just provide that; it has everything they need there with a car spot too,” Mr Zadow said.
The pair had been looking to add further value to their property, with rent of the granny flat expected to provide them with $275-320 per week, so they jumped on the opportunity to secure a grant and start building.
Mr Zadow said it “gave us the extra push to get it done” and accounted for 1/7th of the total cost of construction of the dwelling.
No stranger to ancillary dwellings, Mr Zadow’s company Tiny Homes Tasmania builds custom shipping container homes, with 60 per cent of his clients placing them in backyards of existing properties.
Shadow Minister for Housing Labor Haddad said while the program would provide “a handful of houses around the state”, there were 4400 families waiting to be housed on the public housing waitlist.
“The wait time is over a year and that is just an average, we know that in reality people are often waiting for periods of time in excess of a year to be housed,” she said.
“And in the meantime they are either sleeping rough or living in very unsecure and unsafe housing situations.
“The announcement today is a drop in the ocean to deal with that huge and growing demand.”
How to apply
The Department of State Growth is now accepting applications for the Ancillary Dwelling Grants Program.
The $2.5 million program is a Tasmanian Government initiative to help boost housing supply, support home ownership and put downward pressure on rents.
Grants of $10,000 are available to the first 250 eligible applicants that submit a complete application.
To be eligible for funding applicants must construct a new ancillary dwelling and make it available for long-term rent for at least two years.
If you have queries email the grants team at adgrant@stategrowth.tas.gov.au
Opens: 3pm, 30 June 2021
Closes: 3pm, 30 June 2022, or until the program is fully subscribed (whichever comes first)
Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome within 21 days.
Why government doesn’t know when highway signs will switch on
With the widespread use of smartphones, Labor has questioned the purpose of newly installed electronic highway signs across Greater Hobart that have not been switched on.
Popular garden plant declared a pest in Tasmania
This tall ornamental flower native to Europe can be seen in gardens across the state but it can also be found in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area and even on the Stanley Nut.