Buy or build a property to lease to DHA

If you are looking to buy or build a property, we may be able to commit to leasing it before you finalise your purchase. 

You will still receive all the great benefits of a secure, long-term tenant and guaranteed rent1 with the flexibility to buy or build a property that suits your budget and investment goals.  

Alternatively, if you’re interested in browsing properties that DHA has already committed to lease2 on completion? Browse our current investment opportunities today.

Buying a property to lease to DHA

We can work with you before purchasing to ensure that your property meets our requirements and your investment goals. We may also be able to commit to leasing your selected property before you finalise your purchase.   

Before commencing this process, you should speak with a financial advisor, accountant or mortgage broker for independent advice based on your personal circumstances.

Step 1 – Understand DHA's property requirements and locations

Properties leased to DHA must meet specific requirements and be located where we currently need housing.

We recommend creating a shortlist of the types of properties and locations that suit your budget, investment goals and are likely to meet DHA's requirements.

Step 2 – Connect with our Investor Support team

Once you have a shortlist, call DHA on 133 342 or email us at investorsupport@dha.gov.au. We can help to narrow down your shortlist to ensure that only properties DHA would accept are included.

Step 3 – Submit properties for assessment 

Once you have a property you would like to purchase, submit the property for assessment online via our application form. Our Investor Support team is available to help you complete the application form.

To assess the property, we recommend including:

  • a floor plan
  • recent photos of the property (these can be from the property listing).
  • the weekly rent you would like to receive for the property
  • your preferred lease term. Generally, these are 6, 9, or 12 years plus possible extensions3.

Step 4 – Inspection, valuation, and lease term

A member of our Leasing Team will work you to arrange an inspection.

The inspection will allow DHA to provide a rental valuation and ensure the property meets our requirements. 

Step 5 – Offer to Lease

If your property meets our needs, you will receive an Offer to Lease from DHA, which provides you with the certainty that if you purchase the property, we will lease it for a specified weekly rent and lease term.

Step 6 – Purchase property and accept Offer to Lease

Accept the Offer to Lease by signing and returning the Landlord Acceptance Reply. The lease will commence once the property is habitable, and any required works outlined in the Offer to Lease are completed.  
 
During this time, you should follow the usual due diligence process of buying a property, including obtaining independent legal and financial advice to ensure the property matches your investment needs.

Building a property to lease to DHA

DHA may also be able to commit to leasing a property before you purchase land or begin construction of the property. By working with DHA before building, we can help ensure that your proposed property meets our requirements.

Before commencing this process, you should speak with a financial advisor, accountant or mortgage broker for independent advice and based on your personal circumstances.

Step 1 – Speak to our Investor Support team

Our dedicated Investor Support team can: 

  • work with you to let you know if the land you own (or are interested in purchasing) is in an area where we require homes, and 
  • provide the specifications and inclusions needed for the property to meet our minimum requirements.

You can also check if your property is in an eligible location by using our postcode checker.  

Step 2– Identify suitable house and land packages or builders

Search and shortlist available house and land packages that meet your investment goals and DHA's requirements.  

If you own land, now is the time to identify builders and have them provide a plan for your property with a list of inclusions. 

Alternatively, you can browse our current listings of DHA-compliant properties that we have committed to lease on completion. These properties are available to purchase directly from third-party builders and agents.

Step 3 – Submit property for assessment 

Once you have found suitable land and a builder, submit the property for assessment online via our application form or by contacting our Investor Support team on 133 342.

To assess the property, we will need:

  • the property address
  • a builders plan
  • property inclusions list
  • development master plan (if applicable)

You will also be required to include:

  • the weekly rent you would like to receive for the property
  • your preferred lease term. Generally, these are 6, 9, or 12 years plus possible extensions3.

Step 4 – Property assessment and valuation

DHA will assess the property to determine whether it meets our requirements. We will also raise an “as if” valuation of the property's potential rent once construction is complete.  
 
Upon completion of the build, a final valuation will be undertaken, and DHA will honour the higher of the two valuations.

Step 5 – Offer to Lease

If the property meets our requirements, you will receive an Offer to Lease from DHA, which provides you with the certainty that we will lease the property once habitable.

Step 6 – Purchase property and commence construction

To proceed with leasing the property to DHA, you must accept the Offer to Lease by signing and returning the Landlord Acceptance Reply. The lease will commence once the property is habitable, and any required works outlined in the Offer to Lease are completed. 

During this time, you should follow the usual due diligence process, including obtaining independent legal and financial advice to ensure the property matches your investment needs.

Purchasing a property mid-lease 

There are established DHA properties being sold during the term of the lease (mid-lease), allowing you to take over the remaining lease term. To view the list of these properties, please follow the steps below. 

  1. Visit your preferred real estate property site.
  2. Search the location you are interested in buying a property.
  3. In the filters, include the keyword "DHA" and hit search.
  4. Use the contact details provided on the listing to proceed with the purchase.

Ready to invest? 

If you'd like to speak to our Investor Support team to learn more about our long-term leases, please call 133 342 or submit an online enquiry.

Next steps and more information

Ready to invest?

Search investment properties with a DHA lease commitment, available to purchase directly from third-party builders and agents.  

Search investment opportunities

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Free property investment webinar 

Learn about the benefits of leasing your investment property to DHA, ask questions and have them answered live. 

Register now

1. Rent may be subject to abatement under certain circumstances such as loss of enjoyment or amenity, or breach of lease terms. Rent is paid where the property is habitable. Should a property become uninhabitable during the term of the lease, or lessor breaches the lease terms, the rent may cease or abate and the lease may be terminated by DHA. Guaranteed rent is subject to the terms of the lease. DHA does not take into account an investor's objectives or financial needs. Investors should always seek appropriate independent advice before making any investment decisions with DHA. 

2. DHA is not the seller of these properties nor is it responsible for any aspect of delivery of the properties. Please enquire directly with the builder/agent if you are interested in these properties. DHA has reviewed the property plans, inclusions and location, and has committed to a long-term lease on completion of the build.

3. DHA can vary the lease term at our discretion by exercising each extension right once. Investors should consider their long term plans and potential changes in circumstances when assessing a DHA long term lease. 

For more detailed information on leasing a property to DHA, visit: Lease your investment property to DHA | Defence Housing Australia. Investment in a DHA property is subject to the terms of the lease and those terms take precedence over the information or material in this email or external sites. Investors retain some responsibilities and risks. The information in this email is provided for general information purposes only, and on the understanding that DHA is not providing professional advice on any particular matter. This email is not a substitute for obtaining independent professional advice. Before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any information in this email or through external sites, the user should obtain appropriate independent professional advice including legal and/or financial advice. DHA is not liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person relying on the information in this email or websites mentioned therein. This email mentions other websites that are external to DHA. This does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any material on those websites, or any associated organisation, product or service. DHA has no direct control over the content of those, or the changes that may occur to the content on those websites. Users of external websites are responsible for being aware of which organisation is hosting the website they visit and it is the user’s responsibility to make their own decision about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, correctness or currency of information contained in linked websites.