Last updated: June 2026 · 9 min read · Atomic Builds
The WA First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) is a one-off, tax-free $10,000 payment from the
Western Australian Government to eligible first home buyers who build or buy a brand-new
home. There’s no income test, no means testing, and no repayment — but it only applies to
new homes, and the property value cap is now creating real problems in Perth’s rising market.
Here’s the complete, unfiltered picture.
On This Page
↓ Who is eligible for the WA First Home Owner Grant?
↓ Does the FHOG apply to established homes in WA?
↓ What is the property value cap for the WA FHOG?
↓ When do you actually receive the $10,000?
↓ How do you apply for the FHOG in WA?
↓ Can couples both claim the FHOG?
↓ Can I get the FHOG if my partner previously owned property?
↓ What happens if I don’t move in within 12 months?
↓ Can I stack the FHOG with other first home buyer schemes?
↓ What are the stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in WA?
↓ Does the $10,000 count as income for tax purposes?
↓ Can I use the FHOG as my deposit?
↓ What if I’ve received the FHOG in another state?
↓ What counts as a “substantially renovated” home for FHOG purposes?
What the FHOG Actually Is (And Isn’t)
The First Home Owner Grant was introduced nationally on 1 July 2000 to help offset the
impact of the GST on new home construction. Each state administers its own version. In WA,
that’s $10,000, managed by RevenueWA.
It’s not a loan. It doesn’t get added to your mortgage. It doesn’t need to be repaid —
unless you fail to meet the residency requirements after receiving it. It’s a straight cash
payment from the WA Government, deposited either into your bank account or applied at your
first progress payment depending on how you’re building.
What it isn’t: a deposit replacement. It won’t get you across the line on its own if you
haven’t got genuine savings. Lenders still want to see 5% or more in savings, and the
$10,000 comes into play at a later stage of the process — not upfront.
Who Is Eligible for the WA First Home Owner Grant? {#who-is-eligible}
To qualify, every person on the application must meet all of the following:
- You’re a natural person — companies and trusts don’t qualify
- You’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident — at least one applicant must
hold citizenship or PR; temporary residents don’t qualify - You’re 18 or older — minors cannot apply, though they can be added to the title
without affecting the grant if at least one adult applicant qualifies - You haven’t previously owned residential property in Australia that you lived in after 1 July 2000 — this is the one most people trip over (more on this below)
- You haven’t previously received the FHOG in any Australian state or territory
- You intend to live in the home as your principal place of residence for at least
6 continuous months, commencing within 12 months of completion
That’s it for the personal eligibility rules. No income test. No asset test. A nurse on
$75,000 a year and a surgeon on $300,000 a year face exactly the same eligibility criteria.
What the Industry Won’t Tell You About the Property Cap {#value-cap}
The FHOG in WA applies to homes valued at under $750,000 if you’re buying south of the
26th parallel — which covers Perth and the vast majority of the state. North of the 26th
parallel (think Geraldton, Karratha, Broome, Port Hedland), the cap rises to $1,000,000.
Here’s the part builders tend to gloss over: that $750,000 cap includes both the land
and the construction contract. It’s the total value of the home-and-land package, not just
the build price.
Perth’s median house price has climbed to roughly $750,000–$850,000 depending on suburb.
Growth corridors that were comfortably inside the cap two years ago — Ellenbrook, Brabham,
Alkimos — are now bumping right up against $750,000 or over it once site costs and
variations are factored in. Plenty of buyers have been caught out after signing a contract,
assuming they’d qualify, only to find the total tipped over the threshold when all costs
were tallied.
⚠️ 2026 Budget Update: On 7 May 2026, the WA State Government announced proposed
changes to the First Home Owner Rate of Duty (stamp duty concessions), raising the
full exemption threshold from $500,000 to $600,000 and the concessional taper from
$700,000 to $800,000. These changes are subject to parliamentary passage as of June
- The FHOG value cap of $750,000 was not changed in this announcement. Check
RevenueWA for
the latest confirmed position before signing any contract.
Does the FHOG Apply to Established Homes in WA? {#established-homes}
No. The WA FHOG only applies to:
- A brand-new home that has never been previously occupied or sold as a residence
- A home you’re contracting to build from scratch (house and land package, custom build,
spec home purchased off the plan) - A home that has been substantially renovated — meaning most or all of the major
structural and non-structural components have been replaced, assessed by RevenueWA
on a case-by-case basis
If you’re buying a second-hand home — even a recently built one that’s been lived in —
you won’t see a cent of the FHOG. This is one of the most practically significant things
about the grant: it steers first home buyers toward new builds, which is exactly what
the policy was designed to do.
When Do You Actually Receive the $10,000? {#when-paid}
This catches people off guard. The money doesn’t arrive when you sign your building
contract. It doesn’t arrive when the land settles. Here’s how it works:
For a new build (house and land package): The grant is paid at your first progress
payment milestone — typically slab completion. This is usually 3–6 months into
construction, depending on your builder’s schedule.
For an off-the-plan purchase: The grant is paid at settlement of the completed
property.
For direct builds on your own land: Same as a house and land package — first
progress payment, typically slab stage.
What this means practically: you can’t use the $10,000 to help with your land deposit
or initial construction deposit. You need those funds in place before the grant lands.
It becomes part of your project cost equation after the build has started.
How Do You Apply for the FHOG in WA? {#how-to-apply}
Most people never fill out a form themselves. Your lender or mortgage broker applies
on your behalf as an approved agent of RevenueWA. If you’re using a lender, they’ll
include it in your finance paperwork and manage the timeline.
If you’d rather apply directly — or you’re building without a lender, which is unusual
but happens — you can lodge through RevenueWA’s online portal. You’ll be assigned a
Unique Identification Number (UIN) and can track your application status through the
portal.
The application must be lodged within 12 months of completion — but don’t leave
it that late. Lenders typically lodge it as part of the construction finance setup.
If you’re going direct to RevenueWA, do it early.
Can Couples Both Claim the FHOG? {#couples}
No. The grant is $10,000 per eligible transaction, not per person. Two people on
the application still get one $10,000 payment between them. The property doesn’t care
how many eligible buyers are on the title — the government pays once.
Both applicants must individually meet all eligibility criteria. If one person qualifies
and one doesn’t, the application is ineligible in its entirety.
What If My Partner Previously Owned Property? {#partner-owned}
This is the one that causes the most heartbreak, because nobody warns couples about
it before they sit down with a builder.
If your partner has previously owned residential property in Australia that they lived
in — even briefly, even a decade ago — you cannot claim the FHOG as a joint application.
It doesn’t matter that it’s your first home. It doesn’t matter that you personally have
never owned anything. Every applicant on the grant must individually meet the ownership criteria.
The critical date is 1 July 2000, when the FHOG was introduced nationally. RevenueWA
checks whether any applicant owned and occupied property in Australia after that date.
Property owned before 1 July 2000 generally doesn’t count. An investment property owned
after that date that was never lived in can be assessed differently — but don’t assume.
Verify with RevenueWA directly.
One workaround some buyers explore: if only the eligible partner is on the grant
application and the title. This has implications for how the finance is structured and
isn’t straightforward — get specific advice before going down this path.
Can I Stack the FHOG With Other Schemes? {#stacking}
Yes, and this is where the WA offering gets genuinely powerful.
The three key schemes you can combine:
| Scheme | What it gives you | Can stack with FHOG? |
|---|---|---|
| WA FHOG | $10,000 cash | — |
| First Home Guarantee (Federal) | 5% deposit, no LMI | ✅ Yes |
| WA Transfer Duty Concession | Up to $17,765 in stamp duty savings | ✅ Yes |
| Keystart | 2% deposit, government-backed lending | ✅ Yes |
Used together, a first home buyer building a $600,000 house and land package could
potentially access: $10,000 in grant money, $0 in stamp duty (under current thresholds),
and get into finance with as little as 2% deposit through Keystart. That’s a material
reduction in the upfront cash you need to make a new build happen.
Keystart has income limits — roughly $105,000 for singles and $130,000 for couples —
and property price caps, so it won’t suit everyone. But for buyers at the lower end
of the income spectrum, it’s worth understanding how all of these fit together.
What Are the Stamp Duty Concessions for First Home Buyers in WA? {#stamp-duty}
Transfer duty (formally “stamp duty”) in WA is a state tax on property transactions.
As a first home buyer purchasing a new home, you may qualify for the First Home Owner
Rate of Duty — a concession that can wipe out a significant chunk of your upfront costs.
Current confirmed thresholds (prior to proposed May 2026 budget changes):
- Under $500,000: Full exemption — $0 duty payable
- $500,001–$700,000 (metro): Concessional rate — partial reduction, tapering to
the full general rate at $700,000 - $500,001–$750,000 (regional WA): Same concessional rate structure, extended cap
Proposed thresholds (announced 7 May 2026 — subject to parliamentary passage):
- Under $600,000: Full exemption — $0 duty payable
- $600,001–$800,000: Concessional rate tapering to full general rate
At the full exemption threshold of $500,000, the saving is up to $17,765 compared to
the standard rate. Confirm the current operative threshold with RevenueWA before
signing — these changes are not yet legislated as of June 2026.
Does the $10,000 Count as Taxable Income? {#tax}
No. The FHOG is a tax-free payment. You don’t declare it as income. It doesn’t affect
your tax return for the year you receive it. It’s not subject to capital gains tax.
It’s just money from the government with no strings attached beyond the residency
requirements.
Can I Use the FHOG as My Deposit? {#deposit}
Not directly. The grant isn’t paid until slab stage (for new builds) or settlement
(for off-the-plan). You need your deposit — typically 5–10% of the contract value —
ready at signing, months before the grant arrives.
What the grant effectively does is reduce the total amount you need to borrow. If your
build costs $600,000 and you receive $10,000 at slab stage, your lender applies it as
a credit against your construction loan drawdowns — which slightly reduces your
outstanding balance and the interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Lenders will typically factor the incoming FHOG into your construction finance
structure. But they won’t lend you money on the basis that the grant is coming —
you still need your own genuine savings in place first.
Sources
- RevenueWA / WA Government — About the First Home Owner Grant:
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/about-the-first-home-owner-grant - WA State Government 2026–27 Budget Announcement (7 May 2026) — Transfer Duty
Threshold Changes: https://reiwa.com.au (REIWA coverage of proposed changes) - REIWA Stamp Duty Calculator — updated for proposed May 2026 thresholds:
https://reiwa.com.au/the-wa-market/resources/calculators/stamp-duty-calculator/ - Proplyx — WA Stamp Duty Guide (April 2026):
https://proplyx.com.au/guides/wa/stamp-duty
FAQ — Your FHOG Questions Answered
Who is eligible for the First Home Owner Grant in WA? {#faq-eligible}
The WA FHOG is available to Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or
older who have never owned and lived in residential property in Australia after
1 July 2000, and who haven’t previously received the FHOG anywhere in Australia.
Every person on the application must meet these criteria individually — one person
tripping the rules rules out the whole application. There’s no income test.
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Does the WA First Home Owner Grant apply to established homes? {#faq-established}
No — the $10,000 FHOG in WA is only available for brand-new homes that have never
been previously occupied or sold as a residence, off-the-plan purchases, or
substantially renovated homes as assessed by RevenueWA. If you buy a second-hand
home, even a recently built one someone has lived in, you won’t qualify for the grant.
You may still be eligible for transfer duty concessions on some established purchases,
but the $10,000 grant itself is new-builds only.
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What is the property value cap for the WA FHOG in 2026? {#faq-cap}
In most of WA — including all of Perth — the property value cap is $750,000, which
includes both the land and the construction contract. North of the 26th parallel,
the cap rises to $1,000,000. If your total project cost exceeds the relevant threshold,
you don’t receive the grant — there’s no partial payment or taper. With Perth’s
rising prices, more buyers are finding themselves just over the line, so get a
realistic total cost figure before assuming you’ll qualify.
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When is the First Home Owner Grant paid in WA? {#faq-timing}
For a new build, the $10,000 is paid at your first construction progress payment —
typically slab completion, which is usually 3–6 months into the build. For an
off-the-plan purchase, it’s paid at final settlement when the property is completed.
You won’t see the money at contract signing or land settlement, so don’t factor it
into the cash you need upfront for deposits.
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How do I apply for the WA FHOG? {#faq-apply}
Most buyers apply through their lender, who acts as an approved agent for RevenueWA
and lodges the application as part of the finance process. If you prefer to apply
directly, you can do so through RevenueWA’s online portal — but you’ll need to do it
yourself, as third parties can’t lodge on your behalf through that channel. Your
application must be lodged within 12 months of construction completion.
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Can my partner and I both receive the $10,000 each? {#faq-couple}
No — the grant is $10,000 per eligible transaction, regardless of how many people
are on the application. A couple buying together gets one $10,000 payment between
them, not $10,000 each. Both applicants must individually meet all eligibility
criteria — if one person is ineligible, the entire application fails.
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What if my partner previously owned a home — can I still get the FHOG? {#faq-partner}
If your partner owned and lived in a property in Australia after 1 July 2000, a joint
application for the FHOG won’t be eligible — even if it’s your first home personally.
Every applicant is assessed individually, and one person’s prior ownership disqualifies
the joint application. Some buyers explore applying with only the eligible partner on
the grant and title, but this affects how finance is structured and requires specific
advice from a broker or conveyancer before you proceed.
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What happens if I don’t move into the home within 12 months? {#faq-occupancy}
You must occupy the home as your principal place of residence for at least 6 continuous
months, commencing within 12 months of completion. If you don’t meet this requirement,
RevenueWA can demand repayment of the $10,000 grant. Genuine circumstances like illness
or unexpected delays may be considered, but non-compliance can also attract penalties.
Don’t sign a building contract expecting to rent the property first — that’s a direct
breach of the grant conditions.
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Can I rent out the property after receiving the FHOG? {#faq-rent}
Yes, but not until you’ve completed the 6-month continuous occupancy requirement.
You must move in within 12 months of completion and live there for at least 6 months
straight before you can rent it out. Renting it before satisfying that obligation
could trigger a repayment demand from RevenueWA, and they do conduct compliance
checks.
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Can the FHOG be stacked with the First Home Guarantee Scheme? {#faq-stack}
Yes — the WA FHOG and the federal First Home Guarantee Scheme are entirely separate
programs, and eligible buyers can use both at the same time. The First Home Guarantee
allows you to buy with as little as a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage
Insurance, while the FHOG provides the $10,000 cash payment at slab stage. As long
as your property meets both programs’ criteria, there’s nothing stopping you from
accessing both simultaneously.
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Is the FHOG considered income for tax purposes? {#faq-tax}
No — the $10,000 grant is entirely tax-free. You don’t declare it as income, it
doesn’t affect your tax return for the year you receive it, and it’s not subject to
capital gains tax. It’s a straight government payment with no tax implications,
provided you meet the residency conditions attached to it.
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Can I use the FHOG as part of my deposit? {#faq-deposit}
Not directly — the grant isn’t paid until slab stage for new builds, which is months
after you need your deposit ready for signing. Your lender will want genuine savings
in place before the grant arrives. What the $10,000 does is reduce the total amount
drawn from your construction loan at slab stage, which modestly reduces your
outstanding loan balance and total interest paid over time.
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If I’ve received the FHOG in another state, can I claim it again in WA? {#faq-other-state}
No. The FHOG is a nationally coordinated scheme, and if you’ve received it in any
Australian state or territory — even years ago — you’re ineligible to receive it again
in WA. RevenueWA cross-checks against the national FHOG records as part of their
eligibility assessment and compliance process.
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What counts as “substantially renovated” for FHOG purposes? {#faq-renovated}
A substantially renovated home is one where most or all of the major structural and
non-structural components — walls, floors, roof, plumbing, electrical — have been
removed and replaced. A kitchen and bathroom renovation does not come close to
qualifying. RevenueWA assesses these on a case-by-case basis, and the bar is high.
If you’re considering buying a renovated home expecting to claim the FHOG, get a
formal determination from RevenueWA before you sign anything.
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Does the FHOG value cap include land? {#faq-land-included}
Yes — and this is the one that catches the most people out. The $750,000 cap applies
to the total value of the property, including land. It’s not $750,000 for the build
on top of whatever the land costs. In Perth’s current market, a 400m² block in a
growth corridor like Brabham or Whiteman Edge can run $350,000–$400,000, leaving
only $350,000–$400,000 for the construction contract before you hit the cap. That’s
a tighter build budget than most display villages will tell you.
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Have questions about the FHOG and how it applies to your specific situation? Atomic Builds offers free support to help you cut through the jargon and understand exactly where you stand before you sign anything. [Let’s have a chat →]
Last updated: June 2026
Sources:
- WA Government / RevenueWA — About the First Home Owner Grant: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/about-the-first-home-owner-grant
- REIWA — Stamp Duty Calculator (updated for proposed May 2026 thresholds): https://reiwa.com.au/the-wa-market/resources/calculators/stamp-duty-calculator/
- Proplyx — WA Stamp Duty Guide (April 2026): https://proplyx.com.au/guides/wa/stamp-duty
- Money.com.au — WA FHOG Guide (April 2026): https://www.money.com.au/home-loans/first-home-buyer/grants/wa
- AusTax Tools — WA Stamp Duty Calculator (updated June 2026): https://austax.tools/wa-stamp-duty-calculator/