Alesha Capone
More than 2500 applications for the federal government’s HomeBuilder scheme have been lodged in Hume and Whittlesea since June last year.
The federal government announced the HomeBuilder scheme in May 2020, to help support the construction industry in the wake of COVID-19 shutdowns. The scheme ended last week.
The grant provided eligible owner-occupiers with funding to assist in the construction of a new home; substantially renovate an existing home; or buy an off-the-plan home or new home.
Figures from the State Revenue Office show that between June 4, 2020 and January 31, 2021, 1472 Hume residents lodged applications seeking to receive a HomeBuilder grant to help with a new build.
Wyndham recorded the highest number of applications for new builds (2128), followed by Melton (1769) and Casey (1619).
Whittlesea recorded 1101 applications for new builds and 51 applications to help with renovations.
Hume recorded 61 renovation applications.
For eligible contracts entered into between June 4 and December 2020, a $25,000 HomeBuilder grant was available to build a new home, where the value of the house and land did not exceed $750,000.
A $15,000 new build grant is available for eligible building contracts entered into between January and March this year.
The HomeBuilder grant is available to individual applicants and couples who are, or will be, registered as the owner on the certificate of title for a new home.
Each applicant must be an Australian citizen, a natural person (not a company or trust) and aged 18 years or older at the date of their building or housing contract.
Applicants must also not earn more than $120,000 as an individual or $200,000 as a household.
HomeBuilder grant applications can be lodged via www.firsthome.gov.au/homebuilder/vic/and must be received by no later than April 14, 2021.
