If you have never owned a property in Australia, you may be entitled to an exemption from Stamp Duty, and some cash to help you settle the new property.
One of our professional consultants will help you apply for these benefits.
First Home Owner Grant Scheme Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is eligible for the First Home Owner’s Grant?
You are eligible if:
- You are buying or building your first home as a natural person, not as a company or a trust
- You, or a joint applicant, are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
- Yourself or your partner have not previously owned a home in Australia prior to 1 July 2000. This includes investment homes
- Yourself or your partner have not previously resided in a residential property in Australia for a continuous period of six months or more, that you have acquired an interest in
- You occupy the home as your primary place of residence for a continuous period of six months or more starting within 1 year of the completion of the transaction to which the application relates
- You are 18 years old or older
- You have not previously received a grant
I have owned an investment home previously. Can I still be eligible for the grant?You are not eligible for the first home owners grant if you or your partner has had a relevant interest in a residential property in Australia before 1 July 2000, whether or not you have lived in it.
It should be noted that a person may be eligible if they or their partner has only had a relevant interest in a residential property in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 and they have not resided in that property for a continuous period of at least six months.
I am divorced, and my former partner owned a home in their name, am I eligible for the first home owner grant?
If you are divorced, you do not have to take into account any property in which you did not hold a relevant interest.
I have owned vacant land but not a house will I be eligible for the first home owner grant on the purchase or construction of my first home?Vacant land is not considered to be residential property for the purposes of First Home Owner Grant.
What if I have owned property in another country?
The rule regarding previous ownership is applicable only to homes in Australia.
If I have owned a commercial property, does this mean I will not be allowed to receive the grant?
If you that you meet all the eligibility criteria and the commercial property did not include a residence you should still be eligible for the grant.
I am an owner/builder and I have not entered into a building contract. What criteria do I have to meet?
You must not have started any building work prior to 1 July 2000, this is defined as the laying of foundations as evidenced by your inspection reports and you must also
meet all of the other eligibility requirements.
Can a trust or a company apply for the first home owner grant?
No. A company and/or trust is not eligible to receive the grant.
Are permanent residents and New Zealand citizens able to apply for the first home owner grant?
Permanent residents may be eligible and are defined as “the holder of a permanent visa as defined by the Commonwealth Migration Act of 1958”. And a New Zealand citizen who holds a special visa which is defined in the Commonwealth Migration Act of 1958 may also be eligible.
When lodging their applications, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will need to show the relevant passport, visa and date of entry into Australia.
I am an Australian citizen (or permanent resident of Australia) but my partner is not, do I qualify for the grant?
Only one of the grant applicants has to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
General Information:
The First Home Owners Grant was set up to offset the cost of the GST – the commonwealth government requested that the state and territory governments make these funds available to claimants.
General Principles:
- Eligible applicants from 1 July 2000 receive a one off payment of $7,000
- Eligible applicants must be natural persons, not companies or trusts, who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who are buying or building their
- To be eligible for the loan, the applicant or their partner cannot have owned a home prior to 1 July 2000, either together, separately or with some other person
- Neither the applicant or their partner can have owned and occupied a home after 1 July 2000
- Neither the applicant or their partner can have claimed this grant before
- Owner builders must have entered into a binding contract or have started building, or after 1 July 2000
- An eligible home must be within Australia and must be a lawful and fixed dwelling
- Applicants must have the home that is connected to the application as their primary place of residence within 12 months of buying the home or completing building the home
Minimum occupancy requirements are set by the different states and territories
- To be eligible for the grant it must be applied for within the first 12 months of completion of construction or settlement of the home
- There is no means testing attached to the grant
- No tax is payable on the grant
