SMSF RULE CHANGE — TAKES EFFECT 10 AUGUST 2026
If property in your fund was already the plan – the timeline just changed.
Find out where your fund stands in 3 minutes.
From 10 August 2026, self-managed super funds can no longer take out new loans to buy residential property. Contracts exchanged before that date are protected — even if settlement happens later. Existing loans aren’t touched. And funds can still buy with cash after the deadline.
The question isn’t whether the rules are changing. It’s whether your fund can realistically act in the time left. This check gives you an honest answer — by email, in plain language, in about 3 minutes.
This page and assessment are general information only, not financial advice. Your adviser or accountant should be part of any decision about your fund.
26 June 2026 — the legislation passed and received Royal Assent.
9 August 2026 — the last day to exchange contracts under the current rules.
10 August 2026 — the ban takes effect. No new residential borrowing inside super from this date.
One detail matters more than the rest: the protected date is contract exchange, not settlement. Exchange before 10 August and the arrangement is protected — even if settlement happens next year.
Already have a loan in your fund?
Nothing changes. Existing arrangements are fully protected and can be refinanced.
Planning to buy with fund cash?
The deadline doesn’t apply to you. Cash purchases inside super continue after 10 August.
Don’t have an SMSF yet?
I’ll be honest — setting up a fund, rolling over super and arranging finance in the weeks left is not realistic for most people. And rushing a fund into existence to beat a deadline is the wrong order of operations. Take the check anyway — your result will tell you what still works after 10 August.
Fund ready and this was already your plan?
Then the window matters. Keep reading.
That’s the number of new construction properties I’ve confirmed as exchange-ready and suitable for a fund purchase before the deadline.
Why new construction fits this deadline better than anything else: off-the-plan contracts exchange now and settle next year. Exchange is what the law counts. Your fund locks its position before 9 August with the deposit, and has the settlement period to complete the rest — no scramble to settle in 30 days.
How it works: strategy first, same as always. A deadline changes the timing, not the standard. If your fund and one of these three properties fit, I’ll say so. If they don’t, I’ll tell you that too.
Your adviser or accountant stays in the loop from the first conversation — that’s a condition of working with me on this, not an optional extra.
A deadline is a terrible reason to buy property.
It’s a good reason to get clear.
Most of what’s being written about this rule change is noise. The facts are simple: if a property purchase inside your fund was already the plan, the window to borrow closes on 10 August 2026. If it wasn’t the plan, nothing on this page should talk you into it.
I built this check so you can find out in 3 minutes whether the window is realistic for your fund — before you spend two weeks chasing something that was never going to happen.
If your fund is ready — let’s talk. If it isn’t — I’ll tell you straight, and I’ll tell you what still works after 10 August.
Perryn Slighting
Buyers Advocate and Property Portfolio Strategist
Book a 15-minute call and let’s see how I can help you.
If property in your fund was already in your plan – then just the timeline has changed.
Let’s find out where your fund stands.
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By submitting this form you agree to be added to the Portfolio By Design email list. You can unsubscribe at any time. This page and assessment are general information only and do not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Speak to your licensed financial adviser, accountant or SMSF specialist before making any decision about your fund. Legislative details current at July 2026.