Property 101: Negative gearing in West Australia

The majority of respondents to a recent survey by REIWA negatively gear their investment property.

The survey of property investors in Western Australia found that 72 percent of respondents negatively gear their investment property and from those 76 percent owned just one or two investment properties,

REIWA President Hayden Groves said indicates that the majority of investors are everyday West Aussies who hold small property portfolios.

"These findings debunk the myth that property investment and negative gearing only assists those who are wealthy," he said.

“We can see that West Australians employed across a whole range of industries negatively gear their investment property. 

“We hope these findings provide further insight into why we want negative gearing to be retained in its current form or, alternatively, a review of the entire tax system be carried out.

More than half of respondents to the survey earn a gross salary of less than $100,00.

Top five industry groups in WA whose employees invest in property:

•   Business and human resource – 23 percent

•   Mining and engineering – 17 percent

•   Construction and building – 13 percent

•   Health, education, and social and welfare – 11 percent

•   Public service – 11 percent