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 or 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
If your home is suitable for raising, you may be eligible for a grant to help elevate its liveable areas and reduce the risk of flood damage.
The grant includes:
- $100,000 (GST inclusive) from RA
- plus up to an additional $100,000, matched dollar-for-dollar with your own contribution — up to a total grant of $200,000 (GST inclusive).
Example: If the total cost to raise your home is $150,000:
- RA provides $100,000
- Homeowner contributes $25,000
- RA matches your contribution with another $25,000.
An additional grant of up to $20,000 including GST is available to cover the costs associated with planning documentation, feasibility, design, and development approvals
Home Rebuild
If your original home was destroyed or severely damaged by the 2022 floods, you may be eligible for a grant to help with the cost of rebuilding or re-establishing a more resilient home.
The grant includes:
- $100,000 (GST inclusive) from RA
- up to an additional $100,000 (GST inclusive), matched dollar-for-dollar with your own contribution — up to a total grant of $200,000 (GST inclusive).
Example: If the cost to rebuild your home is $300,000:
- RA provides $100,000
- homeowner contributes $100,000
- RA matches your contribution with another $100,000.
An additional grant of up to $20,000 including GST is available to cover the costs associated with planning documentation, feasibility, design, and development approvals.
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
This grant is available to relocate your current home to a safer location on your 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.
The grant includes:
- $100,000 (GST inclusive) from RA
- up to an additional $100,000 (GST inclusive), matched dollar-for-dollar with your own contribution — up to a total grant of $200,000 (GST inclusive).
Example: If the cost to relocate your home is $120,000:
- RA provides $100,000
- Homeowner contributes $10,000
- RA matches your contribution with another $10,000.
An additional grant of up to $20,000 including GST is available to cover the costs associated with planning documentation, feasibility, design, and development approvals.
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.
Where the works cost estimate is greater than the available grant value, and the homeowner cannot afford to provide a co-contribution, RA will work with the homeowner towards a resolution on a case-by-case basis, usually resulting in a reduced scope of works.
The Resilient Homes Program team will work with homeowners on a case-by-case basis to understand their needs if they are unable to contribute to the cost of completing works. In some circumstances the RA may waive the co-contribution requirement for eligible homeowners.
Fact sheets and guidance
Find resources about the Resilient Homes Program in our publications and reports library
