Family Home Guarantee in Perth
Family Home Guarantee: buying as a single parent
The Family Home Guarantee lets eligible single parents and single legal guardians buy a home with a 2% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance, backed by the Australian Government. We look at your whole picture with care, explain how lenders see one income and help you apply.
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What the Family Home Guarantee is
The Family Home Guarantee is the part of the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme for single parents and single legal guardians, letting you buy a home to live in with as little as 2% deposit and no LMI.
Since 1 October 2025 the government has called it the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme for single parents and legal guardians. Many people, and many lenders, still call it the Family Home Guarantee, so you'll see both names.
Here's how it works. The government guarantees part of your loan to the lender, up to 18% of the property's value. That cover means the lender can lend you up to 98% of the home's value without charging lenders mortgage insurance, which can otherwise add thousands to your costs.
It's a guarantee, not a grant. No money is paid to you, and you repay the loan and your own upfront costs as normal. There are no fees to use the scheme itself.
The scheme is run by Housing Australia, and you apply through one of its participating lenders as part of your home loan application. We can help you do that, and compare it with other options at the same time.
Who qualifies?
You can apply if you're single, the parent or legal guardian of at least one dependent child, an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over, and buying a home to live in.
- You're 18 or over and an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- You're single, with no spouse or de facto partner
- You're the natural parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one dependent child
- You've saved at least 2% of the home's value
- You'll live in the home, moving in within six months of settlement
- You won't own any other property, or a share in one, once this home settles
- You apply on your own, as joint applications aren't allowed
You don't need to be a first home buyer. If you've owned a home before, perhaps with a former partner, you can still apply, as long as you don't hold any other property interest once your new home settles.
There's no longer an income cap. The old limit was removed on 1 October 2025, so a good income doesn't count against you.
One rule catches people out. If you're separated but not yet divorced, the scheme doesn't treat you as single. If that's where you are, we're happy to talk through the timing with you.
Your deposit and the price caps
Under the Family Home Guarantee you need at least 2% of the home's value as a deposit, and the home must cost no more than the price cap for where you buy.
Source: firsthomebuyers.gov.au (Housing Australia), checked 30 October 2026.
In Western Australia the price cap is $850,000 in Perth and $600,000 in the rest of the state. Both the purchase price and the lender's valuation need to come in at or under the cap, and some suburbs with more than one postcode can fall under a different cap, so we check your exact address.
The 2% is measured against the home's value as your lender assesses it, which isn't always the same as the price you agree to pay. You'll also need money for upfront costs like stamp duty, legal fees and moving, which our hidden costs guide covers.
You can buy a new or established house, townhouse or apartment, a house and land package, or vacant land with a building contract. The loan is owner occupier with principal and interest repayments, for up to 30 years.
How lenders look at one income
Lenders assess whether one income can comfortably cover the loan, and they may count regular child support and some Centrelink payments alongside your pay.
Your pay
Salary, wages and regular overtime or allowances are the starting point. FIFO rosters and casual work can count too, usually once you can show a steady history.
Child support
Lenders may count child support if it's regular and well documented, for example through a court order, an agreement or Services Australia records showing it's been paid consistently.
Centrelink payments
Some payments, such as Family Tax Benefit, may be counted. Lenders often look at how long a payment will keep going, which can depend on your children's ages.
Your living costs
Lenders also look at what you spend, including childcare, school costs and any debts. Being upfront here makes the assessment smoother.
Every lender has its own policy on what it counts and how much of it. That's where comparing lenders matters, because the same income can be assessed quite differently from one bank to the next. We know where those differences sit and can show you how each one could see your situation, with no judgement and no assumptions.
Want a rough idea first? Our borrowing power calculator gives a starting estimate, and we can refine it with you.
How we help you apply
We check whether you qualify, find a lender whose policy suits your income, then handle the application with you through to settlement.
Have a chat
Tell us about your family, income and savings, at whatever pace suits you. It's private and there's no obligation.
We check the fit
We confirm the scheme rules, the price cap for your suburb and the documents you'll need to show you're a single parent or guardian.
Compare lenders
We look at how different participating lenders treat your pay, child support and any Centrelink payments.
Apply and settle
We prepare the paperwork, hold the pressure points with the lender and keep you updated to settlement.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Family Home Guarantee only for first home buyers?
No, the Family Home Guarantee is open to single parents and single legal guardians who have owned a home before, as long as they own no other property once the new home settles.
This is one of the main differences from the first home buyer part of the 5% Deposit Scheme.
Can I get a single parent home loan with only a 2% deposit?
Yes, if you're eligible for the Family Home Guarantee you can buy with a deposit of 2% of the home's value and no LMI.
You'll still need savings for upfront costs such as stamp duty and legal fees, on top of the deposit.
Does child support count as income for a home loan?
Many lenders may count child support as income if it's regular and documented, though each lender has its own rules on how much they include.
We compare those policies across lenders so you can see where your income could go furthest.
Can I apply with a family member?
No, the Family Home Guarantee only allows individual applications, so you apply on your own.
If you'd like to buy with someone else, the first home buyer part of the 5% Deposit Scheme allows two applicants, if you both meet its rules.
What happens if I repartner after buying?
If your situation changes while the guarantee is active, it's worth talking to your lender, as some changes may affect the ongoing government backing.
You must also keep living in the home while the guarantee applies. If you move out, your lender may ask you to pay LMI or other costs.
Find out if the Family Home Guarantee suits you
A first chat with Oui Finance is complimentary, and we'll talk you through the Family Home Guarantee and your other options calmly and honestly, at your pace.
Send us a few details and one of our brokers will be in touch. You can also call us on 0448 383 336.
This page is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. The Family Home Guarantee, now part of the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, is administered by Housing Australia, and its rules and price caps are set by the government and can change, so check the current details before you apply. How child support, Centrelink payments and other income are assessed depends on each lender's policy. Eligibility for the scheme does not mean a lender will approve your loan. Lender credit criteria, terms, conditions, fees and charges apply, and your full financial situation will be reviewed before any offer or product is accepted.