Victorian members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are set to receive a special exemption under the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG).

Recognising that ADF personnel often cannot live at home while they serve abroad or live on base, the Andrews Labor Government’s Victorian Budget 2017/18 includes an exemption for our servicemen and women from the FHOG residence requirements.

Eligibility for the First Home Owner Grant normally requires applicants to live in their new home as their principal place of residence within a year of settlement, for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

However, Defence Force members looking to buy their first home often struggle to meet the residency criteria for the grant, due to deployments to other states or overseas.

The exemption will allow our defence force personnel to apply for the grant without meeting this criteria.

While ADF personnel will still need to meet all other criteria to receive the $10,000 grant, this change will make it easier for the men and women who serve Australia to buy their first home.

The same exemption will also apply to the new regional FHOG, which provides $20,000 for first home buyers acquiring newly built homes in regional Victoria.

The new exemptions will apply to current members of the Australian Army, Air Force or Navy that are either on duty or leave, and who are enrolled to vote in Victorian elections.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas

“These brave men and women are serving our nation abroad and interstate – the last thing they need is to be caught up in red tape and regulation.”

“We want to make sure that every Victorian can afford to buy their first home – that includes those working to keep Australia safe.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Veterans John Eren

“Many of our Australian Defence Force members want to buy a home in Victoria, but are serving our nation elsewhere. That’s why we’re making this common sense change that recognises the special nature of their job.”