Applications for the first home owner grant need to be made within 12 months of completing the transaction.

What are the eligibility requirements for the first home owner grant?

  1. At least one of the applicants must be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency in Australia. New Zealand citizens permanently residing in Australia who hold Special Category Visas may also apply.
  2. The applicant(s) or their spouse(s)/domestic partner(s) must not have previously owned a residential property anywhere in Australia prior to 1 July 2000.
  3. The applicant(s) or their spouse/domestic partner must not have acquired residential property anywhere in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 and occupied that property as a place of residence continuously for 6 months.
  4. All applicants must occupy the home purchased or built as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after completion of the eligible transaction.

    It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to satisfy the Commissioner that they have met the residency requirements. Applicants may be required to verify this later by providing documentation supporting their period of occupancy (for example: electricity and gas accounts, bank statements, landline and/or mobile phone accounts and household contents insurance policies).

    Applicants who do not meet the residency requirements must contact RevenueSA in writing within 14 days of the date on which it first became apparent that the residency requirements would not be complied with, and repay the grant.
  5. Each applicant must be a natural person (not a trustee or company) except in the cases of legal disability.
  6. Each applicant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of making application for the first home owner grant.
  7. The property purchased or constructed has a market value of:
    • $650,000 or less where the contract was entered into on or after 15 June 2023
    • $575,000 or less where the contract was entered into between 17 September 2010 and 14 June 2023

In the case of a contract to purchase a home the market value is:

  • the consideration for the purchase of the home; or
  • where the consideration is less than market value, the market value of the property

In the case of a comprehensive building contract the market value is:

  • the sum of the consideration for the building contract and the market value of the property on which the home is to be built as at the time the contract is made; or
  • where the consideration for the building contract is less than actual costs, the sum of the actual costs to build the home and the market value of the land on which the home is to be built as at the time the building contract is made*.
* if land is purchased within 12 months of the building contract being executed and is in relation to an arms length transaction, the consideration paid for the land may be used as the market value.

In the case of an owner builder the market value is:

  • the market value of the property on which the home is situated at the time the home is completed and ready for occupation as a place of residence.

Note: In the cases of a genuine farm the market value of the property will be determined on the value of the home and curtilage area of that part of the land that is to constitute the site and curtilage of a home that is to be built on that site.

Use our first home owner grant eligibility checklist or our Residential Property Buyer Tool to assist you in determining if you may be eligible for the first home owner grant.

  • Any fixed dwelling that is suitable as a residence, for example, a single dwelling, duplex, flat or townhouse. The first home owner grant is not available in relation to renovations to an existing building or the purchase of vacant land.

  • No, there is no minimum, however if the purchase price is less than the maximum first home owner grant you will only receive a payment equal to the purchase price.

    For example, if you purchase a new home, the maximum first home owner grant potentially payable is $15,000. If the purchase price is only $10,000, you will only receive a first home owner grant of $10,000.

  • The first home owner grant is payable per eligible transaction regardless of the number of applicants. First home owner grant payments will not be split.

  • No, personal income or wealth is not part of the eligibility criteria.

  • You cannot receive the first home owner grant for a property used solely for investment purposes. An applicant is required to occupy their property as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of least 6 months, commencing within 12 months after the completion of their transaction.

  • The first home owner grant may be available where consideration is paid. The first home owner grant cannot exceed the consideration. (For example, if the son/daughter paid consideration of $2,500 for the property, that is the amount they will receive for the first home owner grant).

  • No, companies and trusts are not eligible to receive the first home owner grant.

    It is possible however for a person under a legal disability, holding an equitable interest, to claim the first home owner grant, providing that the legal interest is held on trust by their guardian(s). In this situation, the equitable interest qualifies as a relevant interest and the legal interest does not (meaning that the eligibility of the trustee(s) is not a factor)

  • Providing that you occupied the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months, commencing within 12 months after the date of settlement or completion of building, you will not be required to repay the grant.

  • Yes.

    If you receive the grant, but you or another applicant are not entitled to the grant, or do not comply with the residency requirement, you must repay the grant. Penalty may be imposed. The amount of any penalty which may apply is dependent on the circumstances of each case and is in addition to having to repay the grant. See the  False Claims and Penalties page for more information.

  • Occupying the home

  • Each applicant must live in the home as their principal place of residence for at least 6 continuous months commencing within 12 months of completion of the eligible transaction. It is the responsibility of the applicant to satisfy the Commissioner that they have met the residency requirement. Applicants may be required to verify this later by providing documentation supporting their period of occupancy.

    Should you not meet the residency requirement, you must contact RevenueSA in writing within 14 days after becoming aware that you will not comply.

  • You must occupy the home for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after the home becomes ready for occupation.

  • Yes. Each applicant must occupy the relevant home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after completion of the eligible transaction.

    In the case of multiple applicants, the Commissioner has the discretion to exempt an applicant from the residence requirement if at least one applicant complies and there is a good reason why the other applicant(s) will not. Consideration will be given on a case by case basis upon written application to RevenueSA from the applicant(s) who will not comply.

  • The most important characteristic of a person’s principal place of residence is that the person is living in that residence on an ongoing or permanent basis as the person’s settled or usual place of abode. Mere residence is insufficient, even where that residence is for the requisite continuous 6 month period. Where the occupation is transient, temporary or of a passing nature, or where occupation is for some other purpose, such as preparing the home for sale or rental, this will not qualify as occupation as a principal place of residence.

    Whether an applicant has occupied a property as their principal place of residence is a question of fact having regard to all of the circumstances. The intention of the applicant is relevant but is not determinative of the issue.

    In general terms, an applicant’s settled or usual place of abode is the place where the person ordinarily cooks, eats, sleeps and conducts most other activities of daily living and has the characteristics of permanency.

  • Providing you occupy the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after completion of the eligible transaction, you are still eligible for a first home owner grant. It is also acceptable for you to rent out a room (or other portion of the home) while you complete your 6 months' occupation.

  • If you believe that you may not have met the residency requirements you must advise the Commissioner in writing within 14 days of your circumstances changing. Upon receipt of such written advice, the Commissioner will commence an investigation to determine your eligibility to retain the grant. The Commissioner may vary an applicant's residency requirement if satisfied there are good reasons for doing so.

  • Spouses/Domestic Partners

  • If your spouse/domestic partner held a relevant interest in a home prior to 1 July 2000, you are not eligible.

    If your spouse/domestic partner held a relevant interest in a home on or after 1 July 2000 and did not occupy that home for a continuous period of 6 months or longer, you may be eligible.

    Your spouse/domestic partner must be included on your application, even if they will not hold a relevant interest in the home.

  • Yes. The eligibility criteria applies to both the applicant and the applicant's spouse/domestic partner. If your spouse/domestic partner will/does hold a relevant interest in the home they must complete the applicant components (section 2 and 6) of the application. If not, they must complete the declaration by spouse/domestic partner components (section 3 and 7) of the application.

  • If you are divorced or separated, you are not required to consider the ownerships of your previous spouse/domestic partner. You will be eligible for the first home owner grant provided that you meet all eligibility criteria. It may be necessary for you to provide a copy of your divorce certificate or statutory declaration to confirm the separation.

  • Vacant land is not regarded as residential property for first home owner grant purposes.

  • A person is the domestic partner of another if they live together in a close personal relationship.

    close personal relationship is defined to mean the relationship between two adult persons (whether or not related by family and irrespective of their gender) who live together as a couple on a genuine domestic basis, but does not include:

    • the relationship between a legally married couple; or
    • a relationship where one of the persons provides the other with domestic support or personal care (or both) for fee or reward, or on behalf of some other person or an organisation of whatever kind.

    Note: Two persons may live together as a couple on a genuine domestic basis whether or not a sexual relationship exits or has ever existed, between them.

  • Previous Ownerships

  • Yes, if you own or previously owned vacant land you may still be eligible for the first home owner grant.

  • If you held a relevant interest in the previous home (in any Australian state or territory) prior to 1 July 2000 you are ineligible.

    If you held a relevant interest in the previous home (in any Australian state or territory) on or after 1 July 2000 and did not occupy it for a continuous period of 6 months or more, you may be eligible.

  • A business premise is not considered a home for first home owner grant purposes unless it could also be lawfully used for residential purposes.

  • If one of the home owners has had a previous interest in a residential property you may not be eligible for the first home owner grant.

    All owners must be included on the application and meet all eligibility criteria.

  • The rules regarding previous ownership only apply to homes within Australia.

  • No, a person is not eligible if they or their spouse/domestic partner have held a relevant interest in an Australian home before 1 July 2000 in Australia, whether they lived in it or not.

  • Owner Builders

  • Owner builders can apply for the first home owner grant after the foundations have been laid and must apply within 12 months of the property being ready for occupation. There is no specific timeframe to complete construction of the home. The foundations must not have been laid prior to 1 July 2000.

  • Completion of construction is when the home is ready for occupation as a place of residence.

  • You must occupy for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months after the home becomes ready for occupation.


  • Examples

    Example 1

    Mark enters into a contract on 22 June 2023 to build a new home. The contract specifies a construction price of $235,000. The market value of Mark's land at the time of build contract execution was $250,000 (resulting in a total market value of $485,000).

    As the market value of Mark's property does not exceed $650,000, Mark may be eligible for a $15,000 first home owner grant, provided that all other eligibility criteria are satisfied.


    Example 2

    Brooke enters into a contract to purchase a new home on 10 September 2023. The home has never previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence. The purchase price is $575,000.

    As the market value of her property does not exceed $650,000, Brooke may be eligible for the $15,000 first home owner grant provided all other eligibility criteria are satisfied.


    Example 3

    Daniel enters into a contract to purchase a new home on 28 July 2023. The home has never previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence. The purchase price is $730,000.

    As the market value of Daniel's property exceeds $650,000, no first home owner grant is available.


    Example 4

    Zack enters into a contract to purchase a new home from his uncle on 1 July 2023. The home has never previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence. Due to the nature of their relationship, Zack's uncle agreed to a purchase price of $10,000.

    As the market value of the property does not exceed $650,000, a $10,000 first home owner grant is potentially available, provided that all other eligibility criteria are satisfied. The amount of the first home owner grant is less than $15,000 because it cannot exceed the consideration paid.


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