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First home owner grant

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Eligibility requirements for the first home owner grant

Each person who owns a part of the home must be an applicant.

This includes anyone who is or will be on the title of the property with you. If you have a spouse who will not own any part of the home, you must include them on the application as a non-applicant spouse. All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria.

You may be eligible for the grant if …

You are:

  • at least 18 years of age
  • not a company or a person acting as a trustee
  • an Australian citizen or a permanent resident (or a joint applicant with someone who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident).

You may be eligible for the grant if you are a trustee of a trust (other than a discretionary or unit trust) and all the beneficiaries are individuals under a legal disability who will live in the home as their principal place of residence.

You and your spouse have:

  • never been paid the first home owner grant
  • before 1 July 2000, not owned residential property in Australia
  • from 1 July 2000, not lived in residential property (in Australia) you have owned.

You will:

  • move into the home within one year of buying it
  • live in the home for 6 months continuously as your principal place of residence.

Exceptions

We may approve the grant in special circumstances if you:

  • are under 18 years of age
  • move into the home after one year
  • live in the home for less than 6 months.

However, we must consider that there are good reasons for you to get the grant.

You might not get the grant if you have entered into a/an:

Before applying, check with us to see if you are eligible.

Top call centre questions

My spouse has owned a home before. Am I eligible for the grant?

If your spouse has previously owned a home they have lived in, you will not be eligible for the grant. If your spouse has owned a home before 1 July 2000, you will not be eligible for the grant.

Does my partner have to be included on the application?

Yes. If you have a spouse, they must be included on the application.

Each person who owns any part of your home must also be an applicant.

I have owned or currently own an investment home. Am I eligible for the grant?

If you held an interest in residential property prior to 1 July 2000, regardless of how the property was used, you will not be eligible for the grant.

If you held or currently hold an interest in residential property after 1 July 2000 and the property was or is used solely for investment purposes, you may be eligible for the grant providing you give evidence showing you have not lived in it.

This evidence may include:

  • tenancy/lease agreements
  • current electricity/phone accounts
  • electoral roll enrolment details
  • tax return details.

We will review all documentation provided with the application. We will not make a determination without an application and supporting documentation.

I am not a permanent resident, however my spouse is an Australian citizen. Does this stop us getting the grant?

No. You may still be eligible. Australian citizens, permanent residents, or a joint applicant with an Australian citizen or permanent resident are eligible for the grant, providing other eligibility requirements are met.

I would like to rent out my home for a short period before moving into it. Am I still eligible for the grant?

You may rent out your home before moving in, however, you must move into your home within 12 months and live there for at least 6 months to be eligible for the grant. Note: Renting out your home before moving in may disqualify you from receiving the transfer duty home concession.

When do I have to move into my home?

You must move into your home within 12 months and you must live there for at least 6 months in order to keep the grant.

If I am applying with another joint applicant, do we both have to live in the home?

Yes. To be eligible for the grant, all applicants must live in the home.

What if my circumstances change and I am not able to move into my home, or I have to move out before I have lived there for 6 months?

You must tell us that you are unable to move into your home or have to move out of your home before you have lived there for 6 months.

Depending on the nature of the circumstances, you may have to pay back the grant since you are no longer eligible.

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Last reviewed 3 September 2009

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