The grant is designed to help people purchase or build their first home. The grant will compensate for price increases associated with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 1 July 2000. All the States and Territories will provide the grant under uniform arrangements agreed with the Federal Government.

The grant will be paid to first homeowners who enter into a binding contract on or after 1 July 2000 to buy an established home or construct a new home. For owner-builders, construction must commence on or after 1 July 2000.

If you entered into a binding contract to buy or build a home or start construction as an owner-builder before 1 July 2000, you will not be eligible for the grant, either now or in the future. If you have already entered into a binding contract and are therefore not eligible for the grant, this does not give you the right to get out of the binding contract.

As long as you had not entered into a binding contract or arrangement prior to 1 July 2000 to build or construct a home on the land, you can still be eligible, provided you meet all other criteria.

The grant is the lesser of $7,000 or the amount that you must pay to purchase or build the house.

No. The grant is not means tested either by income, assets or property valuation.

A new or established house, home unit or other type of self-contained fixed dwelling that meets ACT planning standards. An eligible home must be located in the ACT.

A first homebuyer, who fulfils the eligibility criteria listed below.

• At least one of the applicants must be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency in Australia. A New Zealand citizen who holds a special category visa under section 32 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth) is considered to be a permanent resident and thus qualifies.
• None of the applicants can have previously owned or currently hold an interest in a home anywhere in Australia.
• Applicants must occupy the home, purchased or built, as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least six months, beginning within 1 year of settlement or completion of construction.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

If an applicant’s spouse or de facto partner has previously owned a home, no grant will be available.

Except in the case of legal disability, applicants must be natural persons (i.e. not a company).

Everyone with an interest in the home is considered as an applicant.

Please note that substantial penalties apply for not meeting the conditions of the grant and giving false or misleading information is a serious offence.

Information is available in published brochures through participating Financial Institutions approved to process applications for the grant or contact us. The National First Home Owner Grant website provides further information and you can download the application form. ACT specific information can be found on this site.