Negative Gearing: Tax Rule or Property Villain?
Negative gearing is back in the news… again. Depending on who you listen to, it's either the reason property is unaffordable or the only thing keeping the rental market alive.
In this episode, Jules and Ripehouse Advisory GM (and long-time investor) Ian Dowson cut through the noise. They explain what negative gearing actually is, why it exists, what happened when a government tried to kill it, and what it would really mean for investors and renters if the rules change.
They also cover how serious investors should think about tax changes without letting politics derail a long-term strategy.
Key takeaways:
- What negative gearing actually is (in plain English) and how the tax offset really works
- Why private investors provide the bulk of Australia’s rental stock – and how gearing fits into that
- What happened in the 1980s when negative gearing was removed, and why rents went “bonkers”
- How proposed limits or changes could hit rents, supply, and who actually owns investment property
- Why headlines around negative gearing are often political deflection, not real housing policy
- How serious investors should respond to tax-policy chatter without panicking or going on pause
Guest: Ian Dowson is the General Manager at Ripehouse Advisory and a property investor with over 20 years’ experience.
Book a free chat with the Ripehouse team → https://ripehouseadvisory.com.au