Video -Simon Owen - Managing Director and CEO - Ingenia Communities

This Conversations at the Wharf panel brings together leaders from across the land lease community sector to explore one of the biggest growth areas in Australian seniors living, and the constraints holding it back.

Demand is surging, with the potential for 250,000–300,000 people to seek land lease living in the next decade. But supply is severely restricted. Panellists point to local council bottlenecks, land availability, multi-year approval processes and high competition for viable sites, limiting growth to as few as 35,000–60,000 new homes.

The conversation also highlights the rising interest from not-for-profit organisations, who are well-positioned to enter the sector with strong mission alignment, trusted brands and the balance sheet strength needed to develop communities. While affordability remains central, operators note the model can flex from low-cost to high-end offerings.

On the financial structure, leaders argue the simplicity of land lease, purchase the home, pay a site fee, keep the capital gain, remains one of its strongest advantages, without the need for DMFs.

The panel finishes by examining how land lease operators support ageing in place. While they remain focused on independent living, technology, community design and partnerships with external home care providers are enabling residents to access services while remaining in their homes.

Conversation at the Wharf speakers:

• Ingenia Communities’ Managing Director and CEO, Simon Owen;
• Lincoln Place Executive Director Nick Collishaw,
• Aspen Group Joint CEO John Carter and Westpac’s
• Kaizaad Mehta, National Head of Health and Industry Specialisation, Westpac