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Applying for the HomeBuilder grant

HomeBuilder provides individuals and couples with a grant towards building or buying a new home or substantially renovating an existing home that they will own and occupy.

The grant amount is:

• $25,000 for contracts signed between 4 June and 31 December 2020
• $15,000 for contracts signed between 1 January and 31 March 2021.

You must apply using the online form by 14 April 2021 and provide all supporting evidence by 30 April 2023. Version 1 of the paper or PDF form is no longer accepted.

Eligibility

These criteria apply to all persons, whether applying as an individual or as part of a couple.

• You must not have previously received a HomeBuilder grant in any state or territory of Australia.
• You must be at least 18 years of age. (Companies and trusts cannot apply.)
• You must be an Australian citizen at the time you apply.
• Your 2018–19 or 2019-20 annual taxable income must be below:
  • $125,000 for an individual
    or
  • $200,000 for a couple.
• You will be the registered owner on the title.
• The home will be your principal place of residence after completion or settlement.
• The contract is signed between 4 June 2020 and 31 March 2021 to:
  • buy an off-the plan or new home valued at $750,000 or less (including GST) and construction had not started before 4 June 2020
    or
  • build a new home where the build amount and the value of the land (including any existing structures) is $750,000 or less (including GST)
    or
  • substantially renovate an existing home, where
    • renovations cost between $150,000 and $750,000 (including GST)
      and
    • value of property (home and land before renovation) is less than $1.5 million.

Examples

In these examples, the individuals need to meet all eligibility criteria and application deadlines.

Example—not an Australian citizen

Nikau holds a New Zealand passport and is living in Queensland permanently on a special category visa.

Nikau will not be eligible for the grant because he is not an Australian citizen.

Example—both not Australian citizens

Mandeep and Sunita are buying a new home together. Mandeep is an Australian citizen and Sunita is a permanent resident under a special category visa.

Mandeep and Sunita will not be eligible for the grant because, as a couple, they are not both Australian citizens.

Example—not a couple

Two brothers, Alfredo and Mario, have inherited the family home. They are engaging a builder to renovate the home before moving back in.

They are not eligible for the grant because they are not a couple.

Example—sole owner

Jolanta, who is married to Thanh, is buying an apartment solely in her name. Jolanta’s taxable income for 2018–19 is $140,000 and for 2019–20 is $120,000.

Jolanta is eligible for the grant because she is applying as an individual and her income was below $125,000 in 2019-20. (It must be below the threshold in either 2018-19 or 2019-20).

How to apply

The application process varies depending on whether you are buying, building or renovating. Find out how to apply, including information about pre-approval and when the grant is paid, if you are:

• buying a home
• building a home
• renovating a home.

More information

• You might also be eligible for:
  • First home owner grant
  • Regional home building boost grant.
• Read the meanings of definitions used in the HomeBuilder grant.
• Read the administrative direction that establishes the basis for the HomeBuilder grant.
• Find out about transfer duty home concessions.