Potential First Home Buyers Beware!!!
If you are buying a property and plan on claiming the First Home Buyers Grant or First Home Plus stamp duty concession you should ensure that you meet ALL of the relevant criteria to qualify for the benefits. Applicants for first home buyers benefits are required to sign a declaration that they meet all of the necessary criteria for the grant and stamp duty exemption. The eligibility criteria are clearly set out in the OSR’s first home buyers factsheet which can be found by clicking here.
I am aware that some of my conveyancing clients are sometimes not totally sure whether they meet all the criteria ex. they may have owned a part of a property previously with their siblings or parents. Sometimes these conveyancing clients ask me whether they can apply for the first home benefits and “just see if we are successful”.
I always warn my conveyancing clients against taking this approach as I am aware that applying for the first home benefits when you don’t meet all of the criteria or signing a false declaration can be a criminal offence. If you are caught you will not only be required to pay back any benefits received plus penalty interest but you may also be charged with a criminal offence and face a criminal conviction, a criminal fine and possibly a jail sentence.
If you have any doubts at all about whether you qualify for the first home buyers benefits I strongly recommend you seek advice from your conveyancer or solicitor before you make any application. At clickconveyancing a large proportion of our clients are first home buyers and we have very sound knowledge of the first home buyers eligibility criteria and a great deal of experience in applying for these benefits on behalf of our clients. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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