Housing Australia opens RFP to expand lender panels for key home ownership schemes
Housing Australia has today opened a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to expand the lender panels for the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme and for the future expansion of the Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme. The expansion aims to increase choice and accessibility for eligible home buyers across the country.
The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme enables eligible first home buyers to purchase a home with a deposit as low as 5%, and single parents or legal guardians with a deposit as low as 2%, without the need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance, helping buyers enter the market sooner. The Scheme is currently available through a panel of 3 major bank lenders and 28 non-major lenders.
Launching soon, the Australian Government Help to Buy Scheme is a shared equity initiative that lowers upfront costs and makes home ownership more attainable. With 10,000 places available annually over 4 years, the Scheme will contribute up to 40% of the price for new homes and 30% for existing homes, reducing the mortgage and deposit required.
Housing Australia administers both schemes on behalf of the Australian Government. While both aim to improve access to home ownership, they are distinct programs with separate eligibility criteria and independently managed lender panels.
The RFP opens today, Monday 10 November 2025, and closes at 5.00pm AEDT on Friday 28 November 2025. A decision to appoint new lenders to the panels is expected in early January, with newly appointed lenders to begin offering the schemes from March 2026.
More information on the RFP is available here.