UDIA Victoria Media Release
19-34 per cent of a Victorian homebuyer’s purchase price goes to government taxes and charges, reveals new research by the Victorian Division of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA Victoria).
Released today, The Hidden Cost of Housing research shines a light on how much Commonwealth, State and Local Government taxes, charges and levies contribute to the cost of new housing in Victoria.
“We’ve found that government charges can amount to over a whopping one-third of the purchase price of a new home or block of land in Victoria,” said CEO of UDIA Victoria, Danni Hunter.
“The large up-front cost then sits in the homebuyer’s mortgage, accumulating interest which adds even more to the amount they pay,” she said.
The Hidden Cost of Housing research humanises the impact of taxes and charges by showing them through the eyes of a range of buyer profiles representing a cross-section of Victoria’s homebuyers.
Tom and Emily are schoolteachers with two kids, buying a block of land in Melbourne’s growth areas for $315,000. Of that price, over $106,000 is government taxes and charges, equating to 34 per cent of Tom and Emily’s purchase price.
“Homebuyers make an important contribution to city-building, vital infrastructure and amenities through government taxes and charges. But there is a cost to the high rate of government taxes and charges, and it’s important that homebuyers are informed about these costs and that government is held accountable for how they are spent and if they increase,” said Ms Hunter.
“The cost of government charges is significantly higher than the developer’s profit – a finding that disproves the view that home prices are high because developer profit margins are high, and shows that the developer cannot absorb all those taxes and charges either,” she said.
“We need targeted tax adjustments. Lower taxes would increase the volume of new home sales, which would ultimately achieve the same tax revenue for government, while making housing more affordable for Victorians.”
The research bolsters UDIA Victoria’s calls for tax reform, a moratorium on new taxes and charges, and a radical approach to cutting planning and development approval red tape.
“We must get real about the high cost of housing in this state. Every Victorian deserves suitable housing, which is affordable relative to their income. It is incumbent on the government to make housing affordable,” said Ms Hunter.
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