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First Home Buyer Assistance scheme

If you’re a first home buyer, you may be entitled to a concessional rate of transfer duty or even an exemption from paying it altogether under the First Home Buyers Assistance scheme (FHBAS).

Unlike the First Home Owner Grant, the FHBAS applies to

  • buying an existing home
  • buying a new home and
  • vacant land on which you intend to build a home.

As a first home buyer, you may be eligible for a transfer duty concession or exemption.

  • If your home is valued at less than $650,000, you can apply for a full exemption so that you don’t have to pay transfer duty.
  • If the value of your home is between $650,000 and $800,000, you can apply for a concessional rate of transfer duty. The amount you’ll have to pay will be based on the value of your home.

The FHBAS applies to vacant land on which you plan to build your home.

  • You won’t pay any transfer duty if your land is valued at less than $350,000.
  • For land valued between $350,000 and $450,000, you’ll receive a concessional rate.

Find out how much transfer duty you'll pay

Transfer duty calculator

How to apply

You can apply for the FHBAS after you’ve exchanged contracts with the previous owner.

When you’re ready to apply, download and complete:

  1. First Home Buyers Assistance scheme application form and
  2. Purchaser/Transferee Declaration form (individual) - Note: New interactive form with declaration tick boxes in place of statutory declaration.

You need to lodge your application forms and supporting documents with your solicitor or conveyancer.

Who’s eligible for the FHBAS?

To qualify for the FHBAS

  • the contract date must be on or after 1 July 2017 and must be for the whole property
  • you must be an individual, not a company or trust
  • you must be over 18
  • you, and your spouse or partner, must never have owned or co-owned residential property in Australia
  • you, and your spouse or partner, must never have received an exemption or concession under this scheme
  • at least one of the first home buyers must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Requirements for living in the property

You or one of the other first home buyers must

  • move into the new home within 12 months after buying the property and
  • live there for at least six continuous months.

If you’re a member of the Australian Defence Force when buying your first home and you and everyone you’re buying with is on the NSW electoral roll, you won’t have to meet these living requirements.

If you have any questions about the requirements for living in the property, contact us.

Buying with others who aren’t eligible

The FHABS applies when 50% or more of buyers are eligible.

  • If you’re buying a home with others who aren’t eligible, you can still apply for the scheme if you and any other eligible buyers are purchasing at least half of the property. This is called a shared equity arrangement.
  • Shared equity doesn’t apply if your spouse is one of the ineligible buyers.

Changes in living arrangements

If your circumstances change and you won’t be able to move into the house within 12 months or you can’t live there for six continuous months, you are no longer eligible for the scheme.

You must let us know straight away to arrange the correct duty to be paid. Otherwise, you’ll face the possibility of penalties or fines.

Contact us to update your details.

Making false claims

There are substantial penalties for providing false or misleading information when applying for the FHBAS. We regularly check applications for inaccuracies and compare your information to data from other government agencies and businesses.

Objections and reviews

You can lodge an objection or request a reassessment if you’re dissatisfied with an assessment or decision we’ve made.

Contact us

If you haven't found answers on this website to questions about first home buyer assistance and how to apply, contact us.