To support Canberrans significantly impacted by the lockdown, the ACT Government will extend and expand a range of financial support measures.
Throughout the pandemic, the ACT Government has prioritised measures to support the most vulnerable members of our community and ensure our health response is fully resourced.
$1,000 Utilities Concession for 2021-22
We will provide an additional one-off $200 increase in the utilities concession to bring it to $1,000 for 2021-22 – helping the most vulnerable in our community with a significant expense throughout the year.
In addition to the $100 increase already announced in June, this will mean that the utilities concession for 31,000 eligible households in Canberra will increase from $700 to $1,000 from last financial year to this financial year. The estimated cost of the Utilities concession to the ACT Government in 2021-22 will be $31 million.
Support for Tenants and Landlords
We will extend the previously announced land tax and commercial rates relief to landlords who provide rent relief to their tenants through to 31 December 2021.
Commercial landlords who offer rent relief may be eligible for a commercial rates credit of up to $10,000 (increased from $5,000) at an estimated total cost of $5.5 million.
Residential landlords providing rent relief will be eligible for a credit on their residential land tax of up to $100 per week to share the cost of passing rent relief on to tenants – now extended out to 31 December 2021 at an estimated total cost of $2.2 million.
Further, the ACT Government will waive rent payments until 31 December 2021 for any business and community sector tenants of government-owned properties that have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.
