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About Victorian Property Fund grants
The Victorian Property Fund (VPF) is a trust fund established under the Estate Agents Act 1980 and administered by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Income for the fund comes from:
- licence fees and fines paid by estate agents and conveyancers
- interest on trust accounts of licensed estate agents and conveyancers
- investment income.
We administer grants and compensation claims from the VPF. For information on compensation claims, view our Compensation claims – property page.
Grants from the VPF can be awarded for various property-related purposes listed under Section 76(3) of the Estate Agents Act 1980. These include:
- community education, advice or information services
- programs promoting ownership of real estate
- training estate agents and agents' representatives
- dispute resolution and advocacy services
- reviewing, reforming or researching real estate law
- reviewing and researching the real estate market
- housing assistance for low income or disadvantaged Victorians
- developing environmentally sustainable housing
- protecting Victoria's natural and architectural heritage.
The VPF grants program has a limited budget. Some funding areas are more favoured than others and in practice, not all the above purposes are regularly funded. For example, projects that develop more affordable housing for low income and disadvantaged Victorians are preferred over research projects or programs that promote ownership of property.
To find out the VPF's current focus areas, view our Current priority areas section or call 03 8684 6408.
How are grants awarded?
The Minister for Consumer Affairs awards grants from the Victorian Property Fund after consulting with:
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
- the Estate Agents Council. For more information about the council, view our Estate Agents Council page
- relevant industry associations, government departments and other bodies.
Consumer Affairs Victoria's recommendations are based on:
- the project's eligibility under s.76(3) of the Estate Agents Act 1980
- the extent to which the project will contribute to desired government outcomes and benefit the community
- whether the project provides a value-for-money use of the fund, including cost effectiveness and whether other funding sources are available
- whether the project can be evaluated against agreed performance indicators
- whether the application clearly establishes that there are demonstrated and substantial project outputs
- whether the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates that the proposal is feasible and that they have the capacity to deliver the outputs
- the applicant's record of achievement as a provider of relevant services or products
- the budgetary limits on the total funds available.
How long does it take to award grants?
This depends on the amount of funding sought and the complexity of the proposal. In most cases, a simple proposal for a grant of less than $100,000 will take about three months. A larger and more complex application can take six months or longer.
You will need to apply for your grant in time to allow for this. Your application cannot be considered if your program or project is due to start before assessment is complete.
Who can apply for a Victorian Property Fund grant?
Anybody can apply. This includes individuals, government bodies, semi-government bodies and non-government organisations.
Grants of $20,000 (GST exclusive) or more to organisations can only be made to incorporated bodies and government and semi-government bodies.
How to apply for a Victorian Property Fund grant
To apply for a Victorian Property Fund grant:
Victorian Property Fund Grants
Consumer Affairs Victoria
GPO Box 123Melbourne VIC 3001
If you do not have access to a computer and printer, you can order copies of the documents by calling us on 03 8684 6408.
Current priority areas - Victorian Property Fund grants
The Victorian Property Fund discretionary grants budget for 2012-13 is $7 million (excluding GST). Please note that most of this funding is now allocated to grants in progress or earmarked for favoured proposals.
Organisations seeking funding for 2012-13 onwards are invited to contact us on 03 8684 6408 to discuss the nature of your proposal and current Victorian Property Fund priorities before preparing an application.
The anticipated funding allocation by eligible grant purpose for 2012-13 is set out below. Funding levels for each purpose depend on the results of individual applications.
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Subsection of Estate Agents Act 1980
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Funding purpose
|
Budgeted funding allocation for 2012-13 ($ millions)
|
Proportion currently allocated
|
|
S.76(3)(a)
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Community education, advice or information services
|
0.2
|
100%
|
|
S.76(3)(b)
|
Programs that promote the ownership of real estate
|
Nil
|
-
|
|
S.76(3)(c)
|
Training of estate agents and agents' representatives
|
0.3
|
100%
|
|
S.76(3)(d)
|
Dispute resolution and advocacy services
|
0.1
|
100%
|
|
S.76(3)(e)
|
Reviewing, reforming or researching the law and procedures or reviewing and researching the markets for real estate
|
Nil
|
-
|
|
S.76(3)(f)
|
Projects facilitating the registration of interests in land or the compilation of other information relating to the ownership or use of land
|
Nil
|
-
|
|
S.76(3)(g)
|
Housing assistance for low income or disadvantaged Victorians
|
5.8*
|
60%
|
|
S.76(3)(h)(i)
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Development of environmentally sustainable housing
|
0.1*
|
100%
|
|
S.76(3)(h)(ii)
|
Protection of natural and architectural heritage
|
0.5*
|
100%
|
* To be confirmed
Previous grant recipients
Grants approved in 2012-13
|
Grant recipient
|
Value approved* (excl. GST)
|
Description of funded program
|
|
Heritage Victoria
|
$1,500,000
|
Repair and Conservation of Victoria's Architectural Heritage 2012-13 to 2014-15
|
|
Department of Primary Industries
|
$755,454
|
Electricity Safety Assistance Scheme
|
|
Total
|
$675,411
|
|
Grants approved in 2011-12
|
Grant recipient
|
Value approved* (excl. GST)
|
Description of funded program
|
|
Housing Choices Australia
|
$1,506,060
|
Mixed Equity 2012-13
|
|
Housing Choices Australia
|
$1,450,000
|
Affordable and Disability Housing 2012-13
|
|
Loddon Mallee Housing Services
|
$2,092,000
|
Lilydale Affordable Housing
|
|
Real Estate Institute of Victoria
|
$577,053
|
Professional Development 2011-2014
|
|
Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association
|
$200,908
|
Professional Development and Education 2011-2014
|
|
Department of Human Services
|
$2,109,890
|
Home Renovation Service 2011-2013
|
|
Kids Under Cover
|
$2,223,871
|
Studio Program 2011-2014
|
|
Consumer Action Law Centre
|
$685,931
|
MoneyHelp Financial Counselling 2011-2012
|
|
Total
|
$10,845,713
|
|
Grants approved in 2010-11
|
Grant recipient
|
Value approved* (excl. GST)
|
Description of funded program
|
|
Real Estate Institute of Victoria
|
$238,700
|
Professional Development Program 2010-11
|
|
Scope (Vic) Ltd
|
$350,000
|
City of Whittlesea Respite Housing project
|
|
Australian Livestock and Property
|
$86,711
|
Professional DevelopmentProgram 2010-11
|
|
Total
|
$675,411
|
|
Grants approved in 2009-10
|
Grant recipient
|
Value approved (excl. GST)
|
Description of funded program
|
|
Consumer Action Law Centre Limited
|
$692,313
|
Financial Counselling for Victorians in Housing Stress
|
|
Office of Housing
|
$10,700,000
|
Rooming House Supply and Access Initiatives
|
|
Real Estate Institute of Victoria
|
$232,700
|
Professional Development Program 2009-10
|
|
Office of Housing
|
$13,695,000
|
Rooming House Supply and Access Initiatives
|
|
Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association
|
$118,849
|
Professional Development Program 2009-10
|
|
Department of Justice (Native Title Unit)
|
$4,800,000
|
Victorian Native Title Disputes Resolution Project
|
|
Yarra Community Housing
|
$2,909,000
|
Common Ground Environmentally Sustainable Housing Project
|
|
Total
|
$33,147,862
|
|
*Value is reported exclusive of GST as representing the net cost to the Fund.
Last updated: 31/05/2013