The Senior Housing Grant applied to eligible contracts
entered into between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2016

What was the Seniors Housing Grant?

The seniors housing grant was a grant of up to $8,500 available to natural persons 60 or more years of age who were purchasing or building a new home.

The seniors housing grant applied to building contracts and contracts for the purchase of a new home entered into between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2016 (inclusive) or, in the case of owner builders, where construction of the new home commenced between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2016 (inclusive).


Who could apply for the seniors housing grant?

An applicant for the seniors housing grant must be:

  • a person who has entered into a contract to purchase a new home; or
  • a person for whom a new home was being built under a comprehensive home building contract; or
  • an owner builder who was building a new home;

where the contract is signed (or construction was commenced by an owner builder) between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2016.

Each owner of the property must be included on the application.


When must an applicant be aged 60 or more?

At least one applicant for the SHG must have been aged 60 or more at the time of application lodgement.


Was an applicant required to reside in their property?

At least one applicant who was aged 60 or more must occupy the home to which their application relates as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least six months commencing within 12 months after completion of the eligible transaction.


Was the seniors housing grant restricted to certain types of homes?

The South Australian Government chose not to apply any age-appropriate criteria to properties. For the seniors housing grant to be potentially available, a home need only be new.

A 'new' home is home that has not previously been occupied or sold as a place of residence (including a substantially renovated home).


Were there any construction timeframes applicable?

Yes, in relation to building contracts, owner builders and off-the-plan purchases, the following requirements applied:

  • if the eligible transaction was a comprehensive home building contract for a new home—the contract must state that the eligible transaction would be completed within 18 months after the laying of the foundations for the home is commenced or, in any other case, the eligible transaction must have been completed within 18 months after the laying of the foundations for the home is commenced;
  • if the eligible transaction was the building of a new home by an owner builder—the transaction must have been completed within 18 months after its commencement date; and
  • if the eligible transaction was a contract for an off-the-plan purchase of a new home—the contract must state that the eligible transaction would be completed on or before 31 December 2017 or, in any other case, the eligible transaction must have been completed on or before that date.

What was the amount of the SHG?

The seniors housing grant was $8,500 in relation to eligible properties valued up to $400,000, with the amount of the grant phasing out at a rate of $17 per $100 for properties valued between $400,000 and $450,000.

Where a property was valued at $450,000 or greater, no seniors housing grant was available.


Was a seniors housing grant applicant required to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident?

No.


How was the seniors housing grant funded?

The seniors housing grant was funded by the South Australian Government.


Could a person claim the seniors housing grant if they have previously received the First Home Owner Grant?

Yes, however a person cannot claim both the seniors housing grant and first home owner grant in relation to a particular home. If a person met the eligibility criteria for both grants, they must claim the first home owner grant.


How many seniors housing grant could be claimed in relation to a property?

Only one seniors housing grant was payable in relation to a particular home.


Was the seniors housing grant available in relation to a retirement village or residential park?

No, as it was a condition of the seniors housing grant that an applicant holds a relevant interest in the home to which their application relates. the First Home and Housing Construction Grant Act 2000 defines 'relevant interest' to include various modes of property ownership, such as an estate in fee simple. Significantly, the legislation states that a licence, lease or other right of occupancy can only qualify as a relevant interest if granted by the Commonwealth or the State.

As a resident in a retirement village or residential park does not become registered on the land title but instead obtains a private licence, lease or right of occupancy, they do not hold a relevant interest and as such did not qualify for a seniors housing grant.

Please also note that the seniors housing grant was only available to natural persons.


What if an applicant or their spouse/domestic partner had previously received a seniors housing grant?

An applicant was ineligible to receive the seniors housing grant if the applicant or their spouse/domestic partner had previously received and retained a seniors housing grant.


How did you apply for the seniors housing grant?

A Seniors Housing Grant Application was submitted to RevenueSA or the Approved Agent providing their finance, together with the necessary supporting documentation. Applications must have been received within 12 months of the completion of the eligible transaction.

In relation to the purchase of a home, completion of the eligible transaction typically occurred at settlement. Where a home was built, completion of the eligible transaction occurred when the home became complete and ready for occupancy as a principal place of residence.


When was the seniors housing grant paid?

The date the seniors housing grant was paid depended on whether an applicant was building or buying and whether the application was lodged with an Approved Agent or RevenueSA. The following table details the various scenarios.

Type of transactionApplying throughPayment of grant
Purchase of a new home or an off-the-plan homeApproved AgentAt date of Settlement
RevenueSAWithin five days after approval of the application, following proof of lodgement for registration with the Lands Titles Office (please complete a Confirmation of Settlement form).
Contract to buildApproved AgentOn date of first progress payment by Approved Agent.
RevenueSAWithin five days of lodging the first progress payment invoice and approval of the application by RevenueSA.
Owner builderApproved AgentWhen application with required supporting evidence is provided to the Approved Agent.
RevenueSAWithin five days of RevenueSA approving the application lodged with required supporting evidence.