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Read more about HomeBuilder and other relief measures to help customers impacted by COVID-19.

Grants and schemes
  • About

    Information on grants, schemes and concessions

  • First home buyer

    Financial support for NSW first home buyers.

  • HomeBuilder

    A grant for eligible owner-occupiers

  • Previous schemes

    Closed schemes that you may still be able to access

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  • Grants and schemes
  • HomeBuilder grant guidelines
  • Definitions
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Definitions

Applicant(s)

Each person whose name is or will be on the certificate of title must be an applicant for the grant.

The HomeBuilder Grant is only available to individual applicants and couples. If you are the only person listed on the certificate of title as the owner of the property, you must apply as an individual applicant. If there is more than one person listed on the certificate of title, they must apply jointly as a couple, provided they meet the definition of a couple in the relevant State or Territory.

Arm’s length

This means the contract must be made by two parties acting freely and independently of each other, and without offering favour as a result of some special relationship, such as being related to one another. The terms of the contract should be commercially reasonable, and the contract price should not be inflated compared to the fair market price.

Australian citizen

All applicant(s) must be Australian citizens.

Commencement of construction

In relation to a new home, commencement of construction will be commencement excavation and site preparation works

In relation to a substantial renovation, commencement of construction is when works under the renovation contract commence.

In relation to an off the plan purchase, commencement of construction will be commencement excavation and site preparation works

Couple

Two people that are legally married, in a registered domestic relationship, or living as a couple on a genuine domestic basis, excluding people related to each other, ie siblings.

Contract to build

A comprehensive building contract where a builder agrees to build a home, from commencement to completion of construction so that it is ready for occupation

Income cap

$125,000 per annum for an individual or $200,000 per annum for a couple based on either the 2018-19 or 2019-20 taxable income

New home

A contract for the purchase of a home that has not previously been sold or occupied as a place of residence and where construction commenced on or after 4 June 2020

Off the plan

A contract for the purchase of a home on a proposed lot in an unregistered plan of a subdivision of land, i.e. the purchase of a unit before it is built or before the strata plan is registered, and where construction commenced on or after 4 June 2020

Owner

The person or person(s) listed on the certificate of title of the freehold property.

Partner

A person is a partner of another if they are in a registered domestic relationship or living as a couple on a genuine domestic basis.

Principal place of residence

The home you primarily reside in.

Spouse

A person is a spouse of another if they are legally married to each other.

Substantial renovation

The renovation substantially alters the existing dwelling and improves the accessibility or safety or liveability of the property.

If you own a property (house & land) and knock the house down to rebuild this will be counted as a substantial renovation, so long as both the demolition and rebuild occur on or after 4 June 2020. If the demolition occurred before 4 June 2020 (i.e. the property is vacant land as at that date), the contract to build will be treated under the comprehensive home building contract category.

Examples of renovation work that does not qualify includes, standalone granny flats, swimming pools, tennis courts, and structures that are not connected to the property (i.e. outdoor spas, saunas, sheds or standalone garages).

Value

In relation to a new build, off the plan home/new home the value of the property (i.e. house and land) cannot exceed $750,000 (inclusive of GST) for contracts signed between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 and $950,000 (inclusive of GST)  for contracts signed between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021.

In relation to a substantial renovation the value of the home (i.e. house and land) prior to renovation cannot exceed $1.5 million.

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