Home Raising, Rebuild and Relocation | Resilient Homes Program
This section provides details about the Home Raising, Home Rebuild and Home Relocation measures as part of the Resilient Homes Program.
Raising, rebuilding and relocating your home
Home Raising, Home Rebuild and Home Relocation are Resilient Measures available through the Resilient Homes Program. Eligible homeowners can apply for funding for works to improve the resilience of the home from future flood events or the option to relocate the home to a safer location.
Homeowners who are undertaking Home Raising, Home Rebuild or Home Relocation works as part of the Resilient Homes Program will be required to enter into a contract with a licensed building professional to coordinate and complete the building works. This means you will be involved with decisions about your own home and navigate the process at your own pace. The contracted building professional is responsible for the works and their quality. The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) will not be involved in the coordination or performance of the works other than in exceptional circumstances.
If you need assistance, you can call 1800 844 085 for help with questions about next steps or other enquiries. For more complex queries, an appointment can be made with a member of the Concierge Service team by calling 1800 844 085 or email resilienthomesprogram@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au
Home Raising
This section outlines the process of home raising as part of the Resilient Homes Program.
For homes that are eligible for home raising, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) will provide a grant of up to $100,000 including GST to homeowners to either:
- elevate liveable areas of the home to reduce how often they will be damaged from floods
- relocate the home within the existing property boundary or to an eligible property
Homeowners are able to opt-in to a co-contribution arrangement with RA if the cost estimate of works is more than the grant value. In this scenario, the RA will match financial contributions provided by the homeowner (co-contribution) up to a maximum 100 per cent of the available grant value.
Home Rebuild
This grant can assist with the cost of rebuilding or re-establishing a more resilient home where a property was destroyed or severely damaged.
For eligible homeowners, funding of up to $100,000 including GST is available to help with the cost of rebuilding or re-establishing a more resilient home where their original property was destroyed or severely damaged by the 2022 floods.
Grants are also available for large lots and landslide impacted properties, including:
- up to $600,000 including GST for a retreat grant
- up to $100,000 including GST towards the relocation of the home to safer land or off the property for a relocation grant.
Home Relocation
For eligible homeowners, a– a grant of up to $100,000 including GST is available to help homeowners relocate their current home to a safer location on their property, or to another property in the region. It is also possible to demolish or remove existing damaged home and relocate another ready-made home onto the property or another property within the region.
Process for Home Raising
Homeowners who have registered for the Resilient Homes Program and have been advised they are prioritised pending assessment, will generally follow this process.
Eligibility assessment
- Homeowner completes online application and provides documentation to determine preliminary eligibility.
Home Assessment and Home Assessment Report
- RA carries out a Home Assessment to understand more about the property and to talk with the homeowner about their individual circumstances and flood resilient options.
- RA provides Home Assessment Report to homeowner and the homeowner decides if they would like to proceed as per the report recommendations.
Exploring options and determining preferred scope of works
- Homeowner engages with licensed building professional/s to develop a scope of works. This involves preparation and planning such as surveying, soil testing and building design.
- Homeowner submits Development Application (DA) on NSW Planning Portal for council approval.
- Once approved, the homeowner submits quoted scope of works to RA.
Scope of works review and grant offer
- RA reviews quoted scope of works and completes assurance checks of contracted building professional/s. RA may request more information.
- If approved, RA provides a Letter of Offer and Agreement (Deed Poll) to the homeowner.
- If accepted, the homeowner returns signed Agreement (Deed Poll) to RA and enters into an RA template contract with their licensed building professional. The homeowner provides a copy of the executed contract to RA for review, before works commence.
Works commence
- Homeowner ensures Construction Certificate is issued by Building Certifier before starting work.
- RA (and homeowner if co-contribution) makes milestone payment directly to the contracted building professional after RA completes assurance checks in accordance with the building contract.
- After the home is raised a Critical Stage Inspection Certificate obtained from a Building Certifier and Floor Level Survey Certificate obtained from a registered Land Surveyor is provided to RA by homeowner, with a Milestone Payment Claim form (PDF 182.23KB).
- RA (and homeowner if required by contract) makes Milestone payment directly to the contracted building professional, after RA completes assurance checks.
Works completed
- Once works are completed an Occupation Certificate is obtained , as evidence that works are complete. A final invoice is issued.
- The homeowner submits to RA a Milestone Payment Claim form (PDF 182.23KB) authorising payment, with an Occupation Certificate from a Building Certifier and final invoice.
- RA (and homeowner if required by contract) makes final Milestone payment directly to the contracted building professional, once works completed.
- RA sends a completion email with a Statement of Works Completion to the homeowner.
Unfortunately, no. Homes prioritised for Resilient Measures do not have the same flood risk as a home prioritised for a Home Buyback and have been prioritised based on available funding.
Homeowners can request an internal review or can appeal a decision of RA, under the Resilient Homes Program.
If a homeowner is eligible for grant funding for Resilient Measures, but the estimated cost of the work is more than the available grant amount, RA will match the financial contribution by the homeowner up to a maximum of 100% of the available grant amount. This is called a co-contribution.
Where the Home Assessment works cost estimate is greater than the available grant, and the homeowner cannot afford to provide a co-contribution, the Resilient Homes Program team will work with the homeowner towards a resolution on a case-by-case basis and aligned with the Individual and Exceptional Circumstances Policy.
Next steps
For more information
Fact sheets and guidance
Find resources about the Resilient Homes Program in our publications and reports library
