Short answer
If the goal is to create affordable housing through build-to-rent, designers and developers must actively engage with policymakers to secure the necessary subsidies and tax concessions, as market forces alone are insufficient.
- Field
- Innovation & Markets
- Source
- Accounting and Finance Research (2020)
- Method
- Whole-life costing approach to investment analysis.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Build-to-rent models, while potentially financially viable for investors, require significant public subsidies and tax concessions to deliver genuinely affordable housing outcomes. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Accounting and Finance Research. Using Whole-life costing approach to investment analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: If the goal is to create affordable housing through build-to-rent, designers and developers must actively engage with policymakers to secure the necessary subsidies and tax concessions, as market forces alone are insufficient.
Build-to-Rent Viability Hinges on Public Subsidy for Affordable Housing
Build-to-rent models, while potentially financially viable for investors, require significant public subsidies and tax concessions to deliver genuinely affordable housing outcomes.
Accounting and Finance Research · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Build-to-rent can be financially feasible for institutional investors under equity financing.
- 02Under current regulatory regimes and market structures, build-to-rent is unlikely to deliver affordable housing outcomes.
- 03Providing free land alone is insufficient to make build-to-rent affordable.
- 04Significant public subsidy and tax concessions, particularly on GST for construction costs, are likely required for build-to-rent to achieve affordability.
Application
Design takeaway
If the goal is to create affordable housing through build-to-rent, designers and developers must actively engage with policymakers to secure the necessary subsidies and tax concessions, as market forces alone are insufficient.
How to apply
When evaluating the feasibility of a build-to-rent project intended for affordable housing, conduct a thorough analysis of potential government incentives, tax structures, and the cost-benefit of various subsidy models.
Project actions
- 01When researching a new housing development model, consider its economic viability from multiple perspectives (investor, tenant, government).
- 02Investigate the role of government policy and financial incentives in shaping the outcomes of design and development projects.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Applies a rigorous whole-life costing methodology.
- +Addresses a gap in the literature regarding build-to-rent and affordable housing in Australia.
Limitations
The findings are specific to the Australian context and may not apply directly to other countries. The data used is from a specific year, and market conditions can change.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is supported by the use of specific costing data and rental price information. Reliability could be enhanced by testing the model across different Australian cities or over a longer time period to account for market fluctuations.
Think critically
To what extent can design innovation itself mitigate the need for financial subsidies in creating affordable housing, or is policy intervention always paramount?
Design Principles
"Affordability in housing development is often a function of policy and subsidy, not solely market economics."
This research highlights a critical tension in housing development: the financial interests of investors versus the societal need for affordable housing. Designers and developers must understand the economic levers and policy interventions necessary to bridge this gap, influencing project feasibility and social impact.
What This Means for Your Design
Build-to-rent housing projects can make money for investors, but they won't be affordable for people with lower incomes unless the government gives them financial help, like tax breaks.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for specific policy recommendations or financial models in your design project if it addresses housing affordability.
- 2.Cite this study when discussing the economic feasibility and social impact of different housing development strategies.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that while build-to-rent models can be financially viable for investors, their capacity to deliver affordable housing is heavily contingent on external factors. Studies using whole-life costing approaches have found that significant public subsidies and tax concessions are often necessary to bridge the gap between investor returns and tenant affordability, suggesting that market-driven solutions alone may be insufficient for achieving widespread affordable housing outcomes.
Source
Accounting and Finance Research
Can Build-To-Rent Generate Affordable Housing Outcomes? A Whole-Life Costing Approach to Investment Analysis
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about build-to-rent viability hinges on public subsidy for affordable housing?
- If the goal is to create affordable housing through build-to-rent, designers and developers must actively engage with policymakers to secure the necessary subsidies and tax concessions, as market forces alone are insufficient. Evidence: Accounting and Finance Research (2020).
- Why does "Build-to-Rent Viability Hinges on Public Subsidy for Affordable Housing" matter for design?
- This research highlights a critical tension in housing development: the financial interests of investors versus the societal need for affordable housing. Designers and developers must understand the economic levers and policy interventions necessary to bridge this gap, influencing project feasibility and social impact.
- How can designers apply this research?
- If the goal is to create affordable housing through build-to-rent, designers and developers must actively engage with policymakers to secure the necessary subsidies and tax concessions, as market forces alone are insufficient.
- What were the main findings?
- Build-to-rent can be financially feasible for institutional investors under equity financing.. Under current regulatory regimes and market structures, build-to-rent is unlikely to deliver affordable housing outcomes.. Providing free land alone is insufficient to make build-to-rent affordable.. Significant public subsidy and tax concessions, particularly on GST for construction costs, are likely required for build-to-rent to achieve affordability.
- What research method was used?
- Whole-life costing approach to investment analysis..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Accounting and Finance Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When evaluating the feasibility of a build-to-rent project intended for affordable housing, conduct a thorough analysis of potential government incentives, tax structures, and the cost-benefit of various subsidy models.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is specific to Brisbane, Australia, and the findings may vary in different regulatory and market contexts. The analysis is based on 2019 data, and market conditions may have evolved.