Porteous warns Canberra housing tax squeezes small builders

A planning consultant warns about Canberra's lease variation charge. It could lock out homeowners wanting to add secondary dwellings on their own blocks.

Why it mattersWithout reform, only big developers may benefit. Ordinary homeowners could miss out on adding new dwellings to their own land.

AustraliaCanberra's housing shortage depends partly on homeowners building secondary dwellings; unfair tax settings could slow that, leaving the ACT short of the homes it needs.

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Canberra sellers switch from auctions to private treaty as market cools

Auction-to-private treaty conversions in Canberra more than doubled from 28.1 per cent to 63.5 per cent between February and July 2026.

Why it mattersThe shift signals a swing from a seller's market to a buyer's market, giving purchasers more breathing room for the biggest financial decision most people make.