Seniors Downsizing Stamp Duty Relief
As part of its response to the cost-of-living pressures and housing challenges facing South Australians, the SA Government’s 2026–27 State Budget delivers a record level of cost-of-living support, with more than $500 million in relief aimed at easing financial pressures on households.
Among these measures, the new Downsizing Stamp Duty Concession has attracted particular attention from South Australian Seniors considering a move to a smaller home.
The SA Government announced $77 million over five years to provide full stamp duty relief for eligible seniors aged 60 and over who purchase a new home valued at up to $2 million. The previous home must be sold and the new home must be smaller, supporting seniors to downsize and freeing up larger homes for growing families.1
When Does the Seniors Downsizer Stamp Duty Relief Start?
The relief applies to eligible contracts entered into on or after 25 March 2026. Contracts entered into before this date are not eligible for the concession.
Who is Eligible for the Seniors Downsizing Stamp Duty Relief?
The relief is designed for eligible South Australians aged 60 and over who are genuinely downsizing their principal place of residence. In addition to meeting the age requirement, both the existing property and the replacement property must satisfy specific eligibility criteria.
1. Age and applicant requirements
You may be eligible if:
- At least one applicant is aged 60 or over at the time the contract for the replacement property is entered into.
- At least one applicant must be either:
- an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia, or
- a New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Australia who holds a Special Category visa.
- The applicants must be natural persons. Companies and trusts are generally not eligible, except in the case of a Special Disability Trust.
- Neither the applicant nor their spouse/domestic partner has previously received and retained the Seniors Downsizing Stamp Duty Relief in South Australia.2
2. The home you are downsizing from
The existing property must:
- Have been the applicant's last principal place of residence in South Australia immediately before the eligible transaction.
- Be owned by the applicant as a registered owner on the Certificate of Title.
- Be sold within the prescribed 12-month period before or after the relevant settlement or, where applicable, practical completion of the new home or off-the-plan apartment.
3. The replacement property
The replacement property must be smaller in land size than the existing property and must be one of the following:
- a new home
- an off-the-plan apartment; or
- vacant land on which the applicant intends to build their new principal place of residence.
An established home does not qualify for the relief.
4. Value of the replacement property
The amount of relief depends on the dutiable value of the replacement property:
New home or off-the-plan apartment
- $2 million or less – full stamp duty relief may apply;
- more than $2 million but less than $2.1 million – partial relief may apply;
- $2.1 million or more – no relief.
Vacant land
- $1.2 million or less – full stamp duty relief may apply;
- more than $1.2 million but less than $1.3 million – partial relief may apply;
- $1.3 million or more – no relief.
5. Making the new property your home
The replacement property must become the applicant's principal place of residence, and the relevant residence requirements must be satisfied. This is intended to ensure that the concession assists genuine residential downsizing rather than investment purchases.
Downsizing for Retirement
For seniors considering a move, the new stamp duty relief may make downsizing more affordable than ever.
If you are aged 60 or over and planning to sell your current home and purchase a replacement property, our conveyancing team can help you understand the requirements and guide you through the process from contract to settlement.
Contact Wadlow Solicitors or call (08) 8212 2955 and schedule an appointment with Wei Liu.
1 Government of South Australia, ‘Cost of Living’, State Budget 2026-27 (Web Page), <https://statebudget.sa.gov.au/our-budget/cost-of-living>.
2 Revenue SA, ‘Seniors Downsizing Stamp Duty Relief’, RevenueSA (Web Page) <https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/stamp-duty-land/seniors-downsizing-stamp-duty-relief/eligible-applicants>.
