The Western Australian Government’s $75m Build to Rent kickstart fund is now open for expressions of interest, delivering on a major election commitment to help bring more rentals to the market.
The fund administered by Keystart will help to attract private sector investment into Build to Rent developments in WA by providing concessional loans for new Build to Rent projects.
Build to Rent projects are typically large-scale developments that provide secure, long-term rental housing options for tenants – and while the model is attracting major investment in the eastern states, there is significant opportunity for growth in WA’s Build to Rent sector.
The Build to Rent Kickstart Fund will provide support for projects for up to ten years to boost project economics and enable more projects to get off the ground sooner.
This includes no-interest loans for 30% of the construction cost of new Build to Rent developments, capped at $250,000 per dwelling, for up to three years, and low-interest loans for up to 30% of the asset value will then be available for a further seven years once the project is complete.
Projects must provide at least 40 new rental dwellings to be eligible, and rentals are required to be offered for at least ten years.
Projects supported through the fund are required to reserve 30% of dwellings as affordable rental housing, with rents capped at 25% of gross income up to the Keystart income thresholds.
The initiative is expected to support delivery of hundreds of new long-term rentals in WA.
“Build to Rent is a major opportunity to bring more rental stock onto the market in WA, and help more Western Australians into an affordable home.
“Our Build to Rent Kickstart Fund will attract private sector investment into building more long-term rentals, boosting housing supply through low-cost finance.
“The WA Government is throwing everything at building more homes, including through our $210m Urban Connect Shared Equity scheme for new apartments and townhouses, new modular home loans, and our Graduate and Apprentice Loan scheme, which will launch later this year.”
Rita Saffioti, Treasurer, WA State Government
The Build to Rent Kickstart Fund will complement the WA Government’s boost to 75% for the land tax exemption for Build to Rent developments. Expressions of interest close on 8 December 2025.
“The Build to Rent Kickstarter Fund builds on our government’s strong commitment to working with industry to deliver more supply to the housing and rental markets.
“We’re already backing Build to Rent with major government-led developments underway at Pier Street and the site of the former Stirling Towers.
“This fund is about spurring on private sector investment in the sector to accelerate the supply of rentals, complementing our government’s record spend on housing measures.”
John Carey, Housing and Works Minister, WA State Government
