NEW VS OLD: Are there benefits to building a new investment property?

When you use a property for investment purposes, you want it to increase in value, or appreciate, over time.
So why consider depreciation?

While the value of the property hopefully rises during ownership, the building structure and assets within it will experience natural wear and tear. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows owners of income-producing properties to claim depreciation deductions for this natural wear and tear.

These deductions can be claimed under two categories – capital works deductions and plant and equipment depreciation.  

Capital worksdeductions refer to the building’s structure and items considered to be permanently fixed to the property such as kitchen cupboards, doors and sinks. Residential homes in which construction commenced after 15 September 1987 are eligible to claim capital works deductions at a rate of 2.5 per cent over forty years.

Plant and equipment assets are items which are easily removable from the property such as carpet, hot water systems and blinds. These assets have a limited effective life as set out by the ATO and can generally be depreciated over time.

While almost all property investors will be able to claim depreciation, those who build a new property will usually claim higher deductions.

Benefits of building a new investment property

There are two main tax benefits to building a new investment property:

1. Unlike an owner of second-hand real estate, an investor who builds a new property is not affected by legislation changes passed in November 2017. These changes eliminated the ability to claim a deduction for previously used plant and equipment assets found in second hand or previously owner-occupied residential investment properties. Owners of new property are still entitled to claim depreciation deductions for all eligible plant and equipment assets found within their property.

2. The owner of a new property is eligible to claim a deduction for the entire cost of the building structure over forty years. Owners of an existing property can only claim the remaining years available.

The table below shows the first full financial year depreciation deductions and the five-year cumulative depreciation deductions for a new build and a second-hand property, both valued at $570,000.

Case Study

Three bedroom investment property

The newly built property is entitled to a first-year deduction of $10,516, while the second-hand property offers $6,738. Over the five years, the new property will allow the owner to claim $48,543 and the second hand will provide more than $28,000. While the second-hand property still offers lucrative deductions for the owner, there are clear benefits to owning a new investment property.

Along with depreciation, there are several other benefits of a newly built investment property. A new home will attract an abundance of tenants seeking a low maintenance, neat and tidy properties with urban convenience. As a result, the property is likely to provide consistent weekly rental returns and a low vacancy rate depending on the location and current market.

When you are building an investment property from scratch, you’re also able to cater to the current market. Research what rental properties are performing well, considering the floor plan and key features that tenants are willing to pay a premium for. This could help you earn higher rental income and increase the value of the property over time.

To find out more about investing in property and the best way to do it, talk to our team today at Ray White Toronto on 02 4959 6577.