By Chaice Paterson, CEO & Founder, Low Deposit Homes | Updated June 2026

One of the most common scenarios Low Deposit Homes sees: one partner is a genuine first home buyer, the other has previously owned property (sometimes years ago, sometimes recently sold, sometimes still owns an investment property). The conventional wisdom is that this disqualifies the couple from first home buyer support entirely. The conventional wisdom is wrong. In Queensland, the first home buyer stamp duty concession is assessed proportionally — the FHB partner can still claim concession on their share of the property. The Federal Help to Buy scheme accepts first-time AND returning home owners. There are real paths through this scenario, and the right structure depends on what your partner owned, when they owned it, and whether they currently own anything. This guide breaks down exactly what’s still available.

The Key Insight: Different Schemes Have Different Rules

Most buyers assume “if my partner has owned before, none of the schemes work.” That’s not true. Each scheme has its own ownership test, and the answer varies:

The schemes that consistently work for couples with mixed ownership history are:

1. Help to Buy (Federal) — accepts both first-time and returning home owners
2. QLD first home stamp duty concession — proportional treatment in QLD (VIC doesn’t offer this — both must be FHB for any concession)
3. Sole-name purchase structure — title in the FHB partner’s name only, with both partners on the loan (covered below)

How the QLD Stamp Duty Concession Works When Only One Partner Is a First Home Buyer

This is the key insight that surprises most QLD buyers. Under Queensland Revenue Office rules, when two people purchase a property together with different first home buyer status, the stamp duty (transfer duty) concession is assessed on each applicant’s interest separately.

Practical example: a couple purchases a $1 million new build together as 50/50 joint tenants. One partner is a genuine FHB; the other owned an investment property 8 years ago.

• The FHB partner’s 50% interest qualifies for the QLD first home new build concession — zero stamp duty on their $500K share.
• The non-FHB partner’s 50% interest is assessed at the standard home concession rate (around $15,000 for the $500K share at 2026 rates), assuming the property will be their principal residence.

Total stamp duty payable: approximately $15,000 instead of $38,000 — a $23,000 saving for what the conventional wisdom says is “no concession available.”

This proportional treatment only applies when the FHB partner is buying with someone in a domestic relationship. The exact saving depends on the property value, the ownership split, and which concessions apply to the non-FHB partner.

Help to Buy Is the Major Path Forward

For couples with one previously-owned partner, the Federal Help to Buy scheme is often the strongest path. The eligibility criteria are clear:

• “Be a first-time buyer or someone returning to home ownership” — both qualify
• Single applicants: income under $100,000
• Couples or single parent with dependant: combined income under $160,000
• Australian citizenship required (not just PR)
• Must not currently own any other residential property in Australia at the time of applying
• Must live in the property as principal residence (cannot rent out at any point)

Under Help to Buy:

• 2% deposit
• Government contributes up to 40% on new builds (or 30% on existing)
• You take a loan on the remaining percentage
• Zero LMI
• You own the rest; government holds equity share

For couples with $145K combined income and one partner who’s previously owned, Help to Buy delivers a brand-new $1M property for approximately $23,500 cash at settlement, with weekly repayments around $770. The scheme works without requiring both partners to be FHB.

“The biggest myth in first home buying is that ‘if my partner has owned before, none of the grants work.’ Across QLD and VIC, the answer is more nuanced than that. The QLD stamp duty concession works proportionally — your share still qualifies even if your partner’s doesn’t. Help to Buy doesn’t care if either of you has owned before. We see this scenario constantly — divorce, sold a property years ago, parents helped buy a unit — and there’s almost always a path through it.” — Chaice Paterson, founder of Low Deposit Homes

Alternative Strategy: Title in the FHB Partner’s Name Only, Both Partners on the Loan

This is one of the most underused structures for couples with mixed ownership history — and often the most powerful.

The structure: the property is titled solely in the first home buyer partner’s name (sole ownership on the title), while both partners are listed on the home loan as joint borrowers. The FHB partner is the sole owner; the non-FHB partner contributes to repayments and is jointly liable for the loan, but is not on the title.

This structure can unlock the full grant stack:

• Full $30K QLD FHOG — sole-name applicant qualifies (assuming they meet the previous-ownership test)
• Full QLD stamp duty exemption on new builds — sole applicant qualifies
• Full $10K VIC FHOG — sole-name applicant qualifies
• Full VIC stamp duty exemption (sliding scale up to $750K) — sole applicant qualifies
• 5% Deposit Scheme — sole applicant qualifies
• Boost to Buy (QLD) — sole applicant qualifies (subject to CO requirement)

The critical serviceability constraint: because the non-FHB partner isn’t on the title, the bank treats them differently in the application. Specifically, the non-FHB partner and any joint dependents (children) are typically treated as expenses against the FHB applicant’s serviceability — they show up as people the FHB borrower needs to support financially.

For this reason, the FHB partner’s individual income needs to be meaningfully higher than it would for a joint application — often $170,000+ for a sole-name structure to support a typical SEQ $1M new build, depending on the size of the non-FHB partner’s income contribution (which the bank may take into account through “borrowing in joint names” lender policies that vary).

Some lenders are more accommodating of this structure than others. The right approach depends on the specific lender’s policy, your individual incomes, and how strong the FHB partner’s solo serviceability looks.

For couples where the FHB partner has strong individual income ($170K+), sole-title structures can deliver materially more grant access than joint structures — often $40K+ in additional grants and concessions that joint title would forfeit. For couples where the FHB partner’s solo income is under $130K, joint title with proportional stamp duty concession (QLD only) is typically the realistic path.

When Was the Partner’s Previous Ownership?

Timing matters for several schemes:

• 5% Deposit Scheme: Eligible if neither partner has owned residential property in Australia in the past 10 years. So if your partner sold their unit 11+ years ago and you haven’t owned since, you both qualify.
• QLD FHOG: The test is whether either applicant has previously lived in a residential property they owned, on or after 1 July 2000. Pure-investment ownership (never lived in) may still qualify — evidence required (rental ledgers, tax returns).
• VIC FHOG: Similar to QLD — the test is whether either applicant has occupied a residential property they had a relevant interest in. Investment-only properties never lived in may still qualify.
• Help to Buy: Neither partner can currently own residential property at the time of applying, but past ownership (including ownership-and-lived-in) doesn’t disqualify.

The specific facts of when, how long, and how the previous property was used materially change which schemes are accessible. We assess this case-by-case on the discovery call.

Frequently Asked Questions

My partner owned a property 12 years ago and sold it. Can we still get the 5% Deposit Scheme?

Yes, likely. The 5% Deposit Scheme allows applicants who have not owned residential property in Australia in the past 10 years. If your partner sold their property more than 10 years ago and neither of you currently owns property or has owned within the past decade, you should both qualify.

My partner owns an investment property but has never lived in it. Can I still claim the QLD FHOG?

Potentially yes. The Queensland Revenue Office rule (per QRO official guidance) is that you may still be eligible for the QLD FHOG if you or your spouse have previously owned residential property in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 that was solely used for investment purposes — provided you can demonstrate neither of you ever lived in it as a principal place of residence. Evidence is required (rental ledgers, tax returns showing the property as a rental, utility records showing the property was tenanted). This is a meaningful path forward for couples where one partner holds an investment-only property.

What about VIC — does the same investment-property-never-lived-in rule apply?

Yes, broadly. The Victorian SRO applies a similar test: if your spouse or partner owned residential property in Australia on or after 1 July 2000 but never occupied it as their principal place of residence, you may still be eligible for the VIC FHOG (and the stamp duty exemption that depends on FHB status). Evidence is required. The key test in both states is whether the property was lived in by either applicant, not just whether it was owned.

Can I claim the QLD stamp duty concession on my half of the property if my partner has owned before?

Yes. Under QLD Revenue Office rules, the first home stamp duty concession is assessed on each applicant’s interest separately when purchasing as joint owners. Your FHB share qualifies for the concession on your portion of the property; your partner’s share is assessed under standard home concession rates. On a $1M new build with 50/50 ownership, this typically saves around $23,000 in stamp duty compared to paying the full transfer duty.

Does Help to Buy require both partners to be first home buyers?

No. Help to Buy is open to “first-time buyers or those returning to home ownership.” Neither partner needs to be a current first home buyer. The requirement is that neither partner currently owns residential property in Australia at the time of applying. Past ownership doesn’t disqualify you from Help to Buy.

Should we buy in just the FHB partner’s name to maximise grants?

Sometimes — and the maths can be powerful. Sole-title structures (where the FHB partner is sole owner on title, both partners on the loan) can unlock the FHOG, the 5% Deposit Scheme, the QLD or VIC stamp duty exemption, and Boost to Buy. The total saving across grants and concessions can exceed $40,000 versus a joint title structure.

The constraint is serviceability. Because the non-FHB partner isn’t on the title, the bank treats them and any joint dependents as expenses against the FHB applicant’s loan capacity. Practically, this often means the FHB partner’s individual income needs to be around $170,000+ to support a typical SEQ $1M purchase under this structure. Lender policies vary — some are more accommodating of dual-income sole-title structures than others. We assess this on the discovery call to confirm whether it’s viable for your specific incomes.

Ready to See What Schemes You Qualify For?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with Low Deposit Homes — Book your free call | Call 1800 920 172

We’ve helped 1000+ families navigate the QLD and VIC first home buyer schemes — including many couples where one partner has previously owned property. The consultation is free, and we’ll work out exactly which schemes apply to your specific situation.

Low Deposit Homes operates under Winning Homes Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 633 321 758). All deposit calculations are indicative and based on general scenarios. Individual circumstances may vary. Government grant eligibility is subject to assessment by the relevant authority. This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.