The 2025–26 ACT Budget prioritises housing delivery, affordability, and long-term urban growth—setting a clear trajectory for land use change and residential development across the Territory. The ACT Government, in partnership with the Commonwealth, is targeting the delivery of 30,000 new homes by 2030. Valuers can expect these initiatives to influence demand, density, and the valuation of residential and mixed-use assets in the coming years. 

Key policy measures include: 

  • Expanded Stamp Duty Concessions: From 1 July 2025, the concession threshold will increase to $1.02 million for eligible purchasers. This will support entry-level buyers and promote dual occupancy and off-the-plan purchases in RZ1 zones. The threshold will be indexed annually, promoting market accessibility in Canberra’s established suburbs. 
  • Social and Affordable Housing Investment: 85 new public housing dwellings will be delivered through community housing providers under the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility, alongside 300 Build-to-Rent affordable homes and 17 new social housing townhouses in Coombs. The Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program continues to maintain and expand the Territory’s housing stock. 
  • Land Release and Planning Reform: Nearly 26,000 dwellings are planned through government land releases over the next five years. New planning reforms are also expected to unlock thousands of additional homes on leased land, especially around key transport and town centre locations. 
  • Workforce Development: To address construction sector shortages, apprenticeship subsidies for key trades will rise to 90%, supported by cost-of-living payments and school-based programs to attract more young people—particularly women—into the building industry. 

These measures—paired with targeted planning around town centres and transport corridors—will shape housing supply, affordability, and future valuation patterns. API members should monitor the evolving policy landscape as infrastructure, legislative change, and demographic growth reshape Canberra’s residential market.