The First Home Owner Grant is a one-off payment of $10,000 from the WA Government for first home buyers who buy or build a new home. It has been in place since 1 July 2000, when the original grant was introduced alongside the GST, and it remains the single most recognised piece of first home buyer help in the state.
What qualifies
The grant applies to new homes and homes that have been substantially renovated. It does not apply to established properties. Since October 2015, buyers of established homes in WA have relied on the stamp duty concession instead, which we cover on the first home owner rate of duty page.
For transactions from 7 May 2026, the property price cap is $800,000 south of the 26th parallel, which covers all of Perth, and $1,000,000 north of it.
Who qualifies
You must be at least 18, at least one applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and you must not have previously received the grant or owned residential property in Australia. You buy in your own name, not through a company or trust.
The move-in rule
This is the one to watch. You must occupy the home as your principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months, and that period must start within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction. If the property has a tenant with a few months left on their lease, the 12 month window usually gives you room. If your plans change and you cannot meet the requirement, you must tell RevenueWA within 30 days or you may have to repay the grant. See our guide to buying with a tenant in place.
How it stacks
The grant can be combined with the first home owner rate of duty, the First Home Guarantee, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme, and most lenders count it towards your deposit. On a new apartment or townhouse it can also sit alongside the off-the-plan duty concession, which currently gives a full duty concession on eligible purchases up to $800,000.
Back to the First Home Buyers page, or contact us to hear about properties that fit before they hit the portals.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Rules change. Confirm the current position with RevenueWA and your adviser. Settings as at August 2026.
Eligibility for these schemes turns on your own circumstances, and the rules change. KPR is not licensed to give tax advice and nothing here is tax advice. For your own position, speak to a registered tax agent. We refer clients to Evolve Accountants and Business Advisors in Subiaco.