Repair or retrofit your home
30 July 2023: Program closed to new registrations.
1 December 2025: Grant applications for funding closed.
31 March 2027: The completion of works date listed in your Building Contract must not exceed this date.
You must complete the following before 30 June 2027 (or as per the ‘eligible works table’ agreed in your letter of offer):
- a request for final milestone payment submitted to QRIDA
- a RHF completion inspection of the works
- Final Building Certification (if applicable) or the provision of the required trade certificates as listed in the Value for Money Certificate
- Rectification of defects or incomplete works by the licensed contractor
- final invoices issued to the homeowner by the licensed contractor
- final invoices submitted by the homeowner to QRIDA
- final milestone payment released by QRIDA.
The Resilient Retrofit program provided funding to repair (enhance resilience) or retrofit homes to:
- incorporate flood resilient design and materials in liveable rooms or areas
- raise or relocate services essential to the continued liveability of the home.
On this page
Repair or retrofit examples
Some ways to increase a home’s flooding resilience include:
- replace floor coverings to an approved water-resistant floor finish (e.g. vinyl, tiles, polished concrete)
- improve electrical works (e.g. dedicated circuits with lock out breakers between levels and raising power outlets, switchboards, air conditioning units and hot water systems above recognised flood levels)
- replace wall linings, cabinetry and mouldings with water resistant versions
- replace hollow core doors with solid core doors
- replace cavity sliding doors with face-of-wall sliding doors or swing doors and seal wall cavity
- eliminate cavities under or within staircases
- replace cavity walls with non-cavity walls.
A list of resilient retrofit materials covered under the program is in the Design guidance for flood resilient homes .
Before raising your meter box
While energy authorities such as Energex and Ergon typically have requirements about where the meter box should go on a property, it is possible to seek permission to install it in a higher location such as an upper floor.
Contact a licensed electrician to submit an Electrical Works Request where they can contact Technical Advice to submit a Dispensation Request detailing the proposed location of the meter box.
The request should detail:
- how the meter box will still be accessible for a meter reader (for example, through the verandah upstairs)
- clarification there are no locked doors or gates to access the meter box
- the reasons the meter box is sought to be raised (ie. the flood risk).
Making other types of repairs
If you are renovating your home outside the program guidelines, you’ll need to cover those expenses. This includes paying for any building materials and products that might be ineligible under the program.
If you want to make other improvements at the same time as your retrofit works, ask your licensed contractor to separate these out in the quote. This will make the review and assessment process more efficient when you submit your funding application via QRIDA.
Available funding
You were able to apply for funding of up to $50,000 to repair or retrofit your home. Funding is available for Resilient Retrofit strategies included in your Home Assessment Report.
For example: Shane’s recently renovated 4-bedroom home was inundated with 0.5 metre of water through all liveable areas. Shane has private home insurance with flood cover.
Shane’s Home Assessment Report identifies several resilience strategies (in addition to the $60,000 repair his insurance will cover). The Resilience Retrofit works are estimated to cost $10,000.
Shane can apply for $10,000 funding through the Resilient Homes Fund.
The Fund will only pay for works that are not covered by another grant or insurance. Learn more about how other grants and insurance affect your eligibility
Co-contributions
In addition to the base funding of $50,000, eligible homeowners may also receive an additional dollar-for-dollar co-contribution from the Fund.
So, if a homeowner is quoted $70,000 to repair their home, an approved applicant would receive:
- the base funding of $50,000, and
- further $10,000 co-contribution from the fund.
The homeowner would be required to contribute $10,000. Homeowners experiencing genuine hardship (determined by the government) may be able to have their co-contribution waived.
For example: Thao’s 2-storey duplex was inundated with 1 metre of water through all liveable areas on the ground floor.
Thao’s Home Assessment Report identifies Resilient Retrofit options for the ground floor which includes the kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom. Thao sources quotes from licensed contractors. Resilient Retrofit works are estimated to cost $60,000.
Thao isn’t insured and wasn’t eligible for a Structural Assistance Grant. Thao, with a contribution of $5,000 of her own funds, can apply for $55,000 from the Resilient Homes Fund.
Expansion to the repair or retrofit programs
Program options were expanded so that eligible homeowners can apply for up to $50,000 through the Home Raise program to demolish and relocate or raise a non-habitable area (e.g. storage room) of their home.
No co-contributions are available for this work.
If you have already started your resilience works funded by the Resilient Homes Fund or completed your works, you are not able to apply for additional funding to raise your home or relocate an area of your home, however you may be able to complete additional works.
Refer to Completions page to learn more.