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This page gives information about the property and residence requirements for seniors downsizing stamp duty relief.

Property you are downsizing from

The property you are downsizing from (the existing property) must have been the last principal place of residence you owned in South Australia immediately before the eligible transaction.

Only persons who are titled owners (this is the owner or owners who appear on the Certificate of Title ) of the existing principal place of residence are eligible to apply for seniors downsizing stamp duty relief.

Joint applicants

Where there is more than one applicant, each applicant must satisfy the principal place of residence requirement in relation to their own existing property.

Land size

The land size of the existing principal place of residence must be greater than the land size of the property you are downsizing to.

Sale timeframe

The property you are downsizing from (the existing property) must be sold within 12 months before or after either:

• the purchase (settlement date) of the replacement home; or
• the practical completion (evidenced by a Certificate of Occupancy) of a new home or off-the-plan apartment.

Failure to meet the 12-month period for sale may result in RevenueSA seeking repayment of the seniors downsizing stamp duty relief.

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Property you are downsizing to

Property type

If you are purchasing property in South Australia that will become your principal place of residence for at least 6 continuous months (within the relevant timeframe), you may be eligible for downsizing stamp duty relief for one of the following:

• a new home
• an off-the-plan apartment
• vacant land to build your new home on - you must build a fixed dwelling that is suitable as a place of residence and provides complete and permanent living facilities and provisions, such as a a house, flat, unit, townhouse or apartment.

Land size

The land size of the property you are downsizing to (the 'replacement property') must have a land size which is less than the land size of the property you are downsizing from (the 'existing' property).

Construction timeframe

Where relief is provided for vacant land, a new home must be constructed on that land and occupied (generally defined at the point the certificate of occupancy is issued by the builder) within three years of settlement of the land.

To be eligible for relief for an off-the-plan apartment, the apartment must be constructed and the Certificate of Occupancy issued within 36 months of the original purchase contract.

Property value

Full stamp duty relief may apply where the dutiable value of the replacement property is:

• $2 million or less for a new home or off the plan apartment; or
• $1.2 million or less for vacant land.

Partial stamp duty relief may apply where the dutiable value of the replacement property is:

• more than $2 million but less than $2.1 million for a new home or off‑the‑plan apartment; or
• more than $1.2 million but less than $1.3 million for vacant land.

Stamp duty relief does not apply where the dutiable value of the replacement property is:

• $2.1 million or more for a new home or off‑the‑plan apartment; or
• $1.3 million or more for vacant land.

Find out more about relief available.

Residence requirement for the property you are downsizing to

Important: All applicants must reside in the home they are downsizing to ('replacement property') as their principal place of residence  for a continuous period of at least 6 months, commencing within the following timeframes:

• 12 months after the date of settlement (for new homes and off-the-plan apartments)
• 12 months of the date you can lawfully use the home constructed as a place of residence, or 36 months from settlement (whichever occurs first, for vacant land or house and land packages)

You will not be eligible for downsizing stamp duty relief if you live in the property on a temporary basis or only periodically or for some other purpose, such as preparing a home for sale or rent.

It is your responsibility to comply with the residence requirement. You may be required to verify this by providing supporting evidence of your period of occupancy (for example, utility accounts, bank statements, landline and/or mobile phone accounts and household contents insurance policies).

If you are unable to meet your residence requirement because of a change in circumstances, you must contact RevenueSA in writing within 14 days of the change. If an applicant fails to notify RevenueSA that the residence requirement has not been met, interest and penalty tax may be imposed. The amount of any penalty tax which may apply is dependent on the circumstances of each case and is in addition to paying the stamp duty that would been payable.

Find out more about interest and penalty tax.

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Properties not eligible for stamp duty relief

Stamp duty relief is not available for:

• contracts entered into prior to 25 March 2026
• the purchase of an established home 
• knock down and re-build projects, including where you plan to knock down an existing home and rebuild a new home, or subdivide land with an existing home, and your new home is going to be built on one piece of the land.
• new homes or off-the-plan apartments with a dutiable value that is above $2.1 million
• vacant land with a dutiable value that is above $1.3 million
• the purchase or construction of movable dwellings such as tents, caravans or any other portable devices used for habitation
• the purchase or construction of non-habitable structures such as sheds, garages, or barns.

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