Affordable housing Tasmania: 116 blocks on offer from $75,000

The State Government is in the process of making available 116 blocks of dirt-cheap land for Tasmanians on low and middle incomes. SEE WHERE AND IF YOU QUALIFY >>

The state government is in the process of making available more than 100 dirt-cheap blocks of land for low and middle incoming earners, with some costing just $75,000 and others only 4km away from a northern Tasmanian CBD.

Even better – they could be yours with a deposit as small as $3750.

Housing Minister Michael Ferguson said the 116 lots, located at Kentish Dr, Shorewell Park, 28 Bowick St, Wynyard and Hales St, Wynyard, would be prioritised for affordable housing sales for 30 days, before they would then hit the open market.

Construction on all three subdivisions is expected to be completed by July.

Blocks at Kentish Dr and 28 Bowick St are available for purchase now, with the blocks at Hales St to be released in coming weeks.

The Kentish Dr land – just 4km from Burnie’s CBD – starts from $85,000 with block sizes ranging from 613 sqm – 1146m2.

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Blocks of subsidised land available at 28 Bowick St, Wynyard. Picture: realestate.com.au

The 28 Bowick St land starts at just $75,000 with block sizes between 455 sqm – 1430 sqm.

The blocks have been made available under the state government’s HomeShare program, Mr Ferguson said, part of the state government’s 10-year, $1.5bn

Under the program, prospective buyers share the cost of buying their home/land with the Tasmanian Director of Housing, who contributes up to 30 per cent of the cost, with purchasers slowly buying out the director over the next 30 years.

To be eligible to purchase the discounted land, prospective owners must: have an income, be under income and asset limits, be at least 18 years’ old, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident living in Tasmania, have a deposit of five per cent of the purchase price, and not own or have an interest in any other real property, among other conditions.

Blocks of subsidised land available at Kentish Dr, Shorewell Park. Picture: realestate.com.au

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive Adrienne Picone said the land release was “welcome” but more work was needed in the space.

She noted there were 4,407 outstanding applications on the Housing Register, an increase of 500 year-on-year.

“As housing costs continue to rise, more Tasmanians are finding themselves being squeezed out of the property market and onto the growing social housing waitlist,” she said.

Blocks of subsidised land available at Kentish Dr, Shorewell Park. Picture: realestate.com.au

“This release of land for affordable housing is welcome, but rather that just prioritising affordable housing sales for 30 days, the government must ensure at least 10 per cent of the lots remain for social and affordable housing.”