25/05/2026
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A NEWBUILD?
Not all “new builds” are treated equally.
Under the proposed 2026–27 Federal Budget changes, negative gearing for residential property is expected to be limited to new builds from 2027–28, while existing investments made before 7:30pm AEST on 12 May 2026 are expected to be grandfathered.
But here’s the part investors need to understand:
A “new build” does not simply mean “something recently renovated” or “a house with extra bedrooms added”.
Generally, examples that may qualify include:
✅ Off-the-plan apartments
✅ Residential construction on vacant land
✅ Knock-down rebuild duplexes replacing an existing freestanding home
✅ Newly built properties occupied for less than 12 months before first sale
Examples that may not qualify include:
❌ Adding bedrooms to an existing property
❌ Granny flats built next to an established home
❌ A house built after knocking down another
❌ A newly built property occupied for over 12 months before resale to another investor
This matters because the wrong interpretation can completely change the numbers.
Cash flow, tax treatment, resale demand, depreciation, land value, vacancy risk and long-term capital growth all need to be assessed properly — not guessed.
The new rules won’t make bad properties good. They’ll simply make lazy investing more expensive.
And, buying a "NewBuild" is usually not the smartest investment strategy.
Before buying, make sure the property works on its own fundamentals — not just because someone calls it “new”.