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First home owner grant

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What you need to do

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The first home owner grant and your obligations

When applying for the grant ...

You must:

  • give us full and correct information
  • tell us if you are not eligible for the grant
  • tell us if you cannot move into your home within 1 year
  • tell us if you cannot live in your home for a continuous 6-month period.

After receiving the grant ...

You must:

  • tell us within 14 days  if your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for the grant
  • tell us if you do not move into your home within 1 year
  • tell us if you cannot live in your home for a continuous 6-month period
  • pay back the grant if you cannot meet all the conditions.

Give correct information

You will have to repay the grant if you are not eligible (or become ineligible). You may also have to pay penalties.

We will look at the facts of each case to decide if a penalty should apply, and the amount of the penalty.

We may also prosecute if we believe that you knowingly gave us false or misleading information.

 If you ... You must repay the grant plus a penalty ranging from ... 
made an honest and reasonable mistake of fact when applying for the grant
(e.g. you did not know that you wouldn’t be able to move into your home within 1 year)		 0% to 15% of the grant amount
did not take reasonable care to ensure that you gave us accurate information
(e.g. you did not declare that you had a spouse because you did not realise that your de facto partner is considered to be your spouse for the purposes of the grant)		 15% to 50% of the grant amount
knowingly gave us false or misleading information
(e.g. you applied for a grant using your maiden name even though you had previously claimed a grant under your married name or you signed a 15-month lease agreement (or any agreement for 12 months or longer) to rent out your house at settlement)		 50% to 100% of the grant amount

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 19 October 2009

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