Preparing financially
Preparing financially as a single parent
The government schemes with lower deposit minimums for eligible single parents and guardians, and why single-income serviceability is often the bigger constraint.
- Eligible single parents/guardians can access a 2% deposit minimum under the 5% Deposit Scheme, and Help to Buy's 2% minimum applies more broadly.
- Deposit size alone doesn't determine eligibility — check each scheme's full criteria.
- A single-income serviceability assessment is often the more binding constraint than the deposit.
The lower deposit minimums available
Eligible single parents and legal guardians can access a 2% deposit minimum under the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme (Housing Australia / Australian Government, verified 29 Jul 2026) (compared with 5% for other eligible first-home buyers), and a 2% minimum deposit also applies under the Help to Buy Scheme for eligible applicants generally. See the government support guides for each scheme's full eligibility rules — deposit size alone doesn't guarantee eligibility.
Single-income serviceability
Applying on a single income means the lender's serviceability assessment (see the safe-budget guide) is based on that one income against the full loan, with no second income to fall back on if circumstances change — worth factoring into how conservative a purchase price you choose, separate from what a lender might approve.
Practical checklist
Before relying on a single-parent deposit minimum
- Check your eligibility for the 5% Deposit Scheme's 2% single-parent minimum
- Check Help to Buy's current eligibility criteria and place availability
- Get a realistic single-income serviceability estimate before house hunting
Relevant Delora tool
Questions for a professional
- Based on my single income, what would you realistically approve?
- Am I eligible for the single-parent deposit minimum under the 5% Deposit Scheme?
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme — Housing Australia / Australian Government (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.