HomeBuilder grant extended to 31 March 2021

The HomeBuilder grant has been extended from 31 December 2020 to 31 March 2021, in that the Australian government has confirmed that it will provide a reduced grant amount of $15,000 to eligible owner-occupiers who enter into eligible contracts between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021. Some changes have also been made to the eligibility criteria for the HomeBuilder grant.

So what grant is now available?

The Australian government is providing a $25,000 grant to eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) who enter into an eligible contract between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (inclusive of both dates) to:

build a new home;
substantially renovate their existing home; or
buy an off the plan home/new home.

The Australian government will also provide a $15,000 grant to eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) who enter into an eligible contract between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive of both dates) to:

build a new home; or
substantially renovate their existing home; or
buy an off the plan home/new home.

Who qualifies as an eligible owner-occupier?

You must be a natural person (not a company or trust), aged 18 years or older (at the contract date) and an Australian citizen (at the application date).
You must be (or will be) registered on the title as the owner of the land.
Your income must be below $125,000 per annum (or below $200,000 per annum in the case of a couple).
You must not have previously received the HomeBuilder Grant for any property owned individually or jointly with another person in any Australian state or territory.
You must enter into an eligible contract between 4 June 2020 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive)(see below).
Construction must commence within 6 months of the eligible contract date (previously, this was 3 months).
Construction must not have commenced before 4 June 2020.
You must live in the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months, commencing on the completion of construction, renovation or settlement.
For off the plan homes/new homes, you must be registered on the title by no later than 30 April 2023 (previously, this was 31 October 2022).

What is an eligible contract?

You must enter into one of the following contracts between 4 June 2020 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive):

If building a new home: a home building contract to build a new home as your principal place of residence where the property value (house and land) does not exceed $750,000 (inclusive of GST) (in the case of eligible contracts entered into between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020) and $950,000 (inclusive of GST) (in the case of eligible contracts entered into between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021).
If substantially renovating an existing home: a contract with a registered builder to substantially renovate your principal place of residence where the renovation contract is between $150,000 and $750,000 (inclusive of GST) and where the value of your existing house and land (pre-renovation) does not exceed $1.5 million.
If buying an off the plan home/new home: a contract to purchase an off the plan home/new home as your principal place of residence where the contract price does not exceed $750,000 (inclusive of GST).

New licensing/registration requirements for builders

If an eligible contract is signed before 29 November 2020, the builder must have a valid licence or registration before 4 June 2020. If an eligible contract is signed on or after the 29 November 2020, the builder must have a valid licence or registration before 29 November 2020.

What qualifies as a “new home”?

It is a home that has not previously been sold or occupied as a place of residence.

What qualifies as a “substantial renovation”?

A substantial renovation does not need to involve the removal or replacement of foundations, external walls, interior supporting walls, floors, roofs or staircases; however, it should improve the accessibility, safety or liveability of the property.

A substantial renovation does not generally include:

stand-alone granny flats, swimming pools, tennis courts or structures not connected to the building such as outdoor spas, saunas, sheds or stand-alone garages; or
renovations that are primarily cosmetic in nature such as landscaping, painting or re-carpeting.

If your home was destroyed in the 2019/20 NSW bushfires and you are rebuilding on your existing land, your application will be deemed to be a “substantial renovation”.

Are investment properties excluded?

Yes, investment properties do not qualify for the HomeBuilder grant.

Are owner-builders eligible for the HomeBuilder grant?

No, owner-builders are not eligible for the HomeBuilder grant.

Is the HomeBuilder grant available in addition to the first home buyer’s grant and/or duty concession/exemption?

If you are a first home buyer, you may also be eligible for the first home owner’s grant (new home) and/or transfer duty concession/exemption (in addition to the HomeBuilder grant).

How do you apply for the grant in NSW?

The HomeBuilder grant is administered in NSW through Revenue NSW.

Has the cut-off date for the lodgment of applications been extended?

Yes, applications must now be received by Revenue NSW by 14 April 2021. Applications should be lodged via the online portal. Completed applications will take up to 15 business days to be processed.

More information

See the HomeBuilder application form and lodgment guide.

For more information about the HomeBuilder grant, see the Revenue NSW website. If you have any questions, you can contact the HomeBuilder team at Revenue NSW (email: Home.builder@revenue.nsw.gov.au; tel: 1300 130 624).