The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme is available to most Australians who have never owned property — but there are specific eligibility requirements. Understanding these before you start contributing is important.
Core Eligibility Requirements
To use the FHSS scheme, you must meet all of the following:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older at the time you apply for an FHSS determination |
| First home owner | You must never have owned a property in Australia (see exceptions below) |
| Residential property | You must intend to use the property as a genuine place of residence |
| Occupancy | You must intend to live in the property for at least 6 months in the first 12 months after purchase |
| Super fund | Must hold an APRA-regulated super fund account (SMSFs are eligible in some circumstances) |
The “First Home” Requirement in Detail
You are eligible if you have never previously owned any of the following in Australia:
- A house, unit, apartment, or townhouse
- A vacant land parcel intended for construction
- A commercial property
Partial exception — previous hardship: From July 2018, the ATO may grant FHSS access to someone who has previously owned a home if they can demonstrate they have suffered a financial hardship that means they no longer have a realistic prospect of home ownership without the scheme. This exception is discretionary and requires ATO approval.
Couples and FHSS Eligibility
Each person in a couple must meet the eligibility requirements individually. You can both use the scheme if both of you have never owned property.
If one partner has previously owned a home, only the other partner can use the scheme — the ineligible partner’s contribution goes toward the deposit from other savings.
Age Requirement
You must be 18 or older when you apply for the FHSS determination (the request to the ATO confirming how much you can release). You can make FHSS contributions to your super before turning 18 — but you cannot apply for the determination until you are 18.
There is no upper age limit for eligibility.
Residency Requirements
You must be an Australian resident for tax purposes when you apply for the FHSS determination. Temporary residents and non-residents are generally not eligible.
Property Requirements
The property you buy (or build) must:
- Be located in Australia
- Be a residential property (house, unit, apartment, townhouse)
- Be intended as your principal place of residence for at least 6 months in the first 12 months you own it
FHSS cannot be used for an investment property purchase. If you buy and don’t live in it as required, you may be liable for the FHSS assessment tax.
What About Established vs New Properties?
The FHSS scheme can be used for both established and newly constructed properties. It can also be used for:
- House and land packages (where construction will occur)
- Off-the-plan purchases
FHSS and Other First Home Schemes
Using the FHSS scheme does not automatically exclude you from other first home schemes:
- First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): Separate scheme, state-administered — FHSS does not affect eligibility
- Help to Buy scheme (proposed): Separate Commonwealth shared equity scheme
- Stamp duty concessions: State-based, separate from FHSS
You can generally combine FHSS with FHOG and stamp duty concessions if you meet the individual scheme requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
I owned a property overseas — am I still eligible? Yes — the FHSS “never owned property” test applies to Australian property only. Owning property overseas does not disqualify you.
I inherited a share of a property — does that disqualify me? Generally yes, if the property is in Australia. However, the ATO reviews individual circumstances — contact them if your situation is unclear.
Can I use FHSS if I contributed to super before I knew I wanted to buy? You can only count contributions made while intending to use them for FHSS from the date the scheme commenced (1 July 2017 onwards). Contributions before that date are not eligible.
For more: FHSS Scheme Explained, FHSS Annual Limit, FHSS Contribution Strategy, FHSS How to Apply, FHSS vs FHOG. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser via MoneySmart.