Unique:Queensland incapacity assist employee Melissa Bloomfield scrimped and saved for years to attempt to purchase her first dwelling.
In September 2020, she lastly did it, signing on the dotted line for an off-the-plan unit within the Redlands, 25km south-east of Brisbane.
The 28-year-old mentioned her determination to purchase the unit had been based mostly partly on the promise of the federal authorities's $25,000 HomeBuilder grant, which was introduced only a few months earlier.
"All the things lined up so completely. I would been working so onerous, doing lengthy shifts and saving," Bloomfield mentioned.
"I spent a 12 months staying with family and friends so I had no payments - after which the $25,000 grant got here up.
"My unit was offered to me - by the actual property agent, the developer - it was all offered to me with the 25 grand just about promised."
Bloomfield had no thought all of her fastidiously laid plans had been about to be scuppered by a single satellite tv for pc picture.
The primary and solely indication Bloomfield had that one thing was unsuitable got here when her utility for the grant was abruptly rejected in a letter despatched by the Queensland Income Workplace.
Whereas the grant is a federal authorities initiative, the states and territories are accountable for administering it.
Bloomfield mentioned she was shocked.
"After I first learn the letter I used to be considering 'absolutely not'. I could not consider it," she mentioned.
"I had completely no thought. I used to be very, very bowled over as a result of I used to be simply ready for the grant to return by way of. I believed there was no manner it will be rejected."
The division mentioned a satellite tv for pc picture confirmed building was began on the location of the house block earlier than the grant got here into impact on June 4, 2020, making the property ineligible.
The satellite tv for pc picture in query confirmed a grimy patch of land, the place a home beforehand on the property had been demolished.
Confused, Bloomfield mentioned she went to the developer and builders, who each offered letters - seen by 9News.com.au - stating building work had not began on the event till a minimum of August 2020.
One other letter from Redland Metropolis Council reveals the event utility to alter the usage of the property was not authorised till June 4, 2020, the identical day the federal government stipulated work couldn't start earlier than.
"You simply suppose to your self, nicely, how may they've began constructing earlier than then if it wasn't even authorised by council," Bloomfield mentioned.
Bloomfield mentioned she was nonetheless ready to listen to again from the Queensland Income Workplace after lodging an objection to their determination.
Whereas she nonetheless had some hope it will be overturned, Bloomfield mentioned it felt like the federal government had damaged its promise.
And shedding the grant can be very powerful financially, she mentioned.
"I am already working a ridiculous quantity of hours. I lastly thought I'd have a bit of little bit of a break as soon as I moved in, that I may lastly decelerate for a bit of bit, however no," she mentioned.
Bloomfield isn't the one homebuyer claiming to have had their grant unfairly refused on the premise of satellite tv for pc photos utilized by the Queensland Income Workplace.
A Fb group devoted to the difficulty has been fashioned and has 84 members.
A kind of members is Erica Newman, who purchased a newly constructed dwelling together with her accomplice Josh in Ipswich, in March 2021.
The couple, who've a one-year-old son, mentioned they had been instructed by developer Stockland the home was eligible for the grant as a result of building for it started through the relevant time interval.
"All of the paperwork mentioned November 2020 - that was when the location preparations and the slab was laid and the prep work was carried out," Newman mentioned.
Nonetheless, like Bloomfield, the younger couple had been shocked once they bought a letter in February this 12 months informing them that their utility had been rejected as work had began earlier than June 2020.
A satellite tv for pc picture confirmed vegetation had been cleared off the property earlier the identical 12 months.
"Some fundamental clearing was carried out on our lot earlier in 2020 lengthy earlier than the constructing plans - clearly to make the road secure and presentable, however that is what the division is utilizing to disclaim our utility," Newman mentioned.
A letter offered by Stockland, seen by 9News.com.au, backs up the couple's claims.
"Previous to November 2020, there have been no web site works carried out that associated to the development of the house," the letter reads, noting constructing approval had not but been granted for the event on the time.
"Any satellite tv for pc photos from June 2020 present the lot in its vacant state, previous to the graduation of any works."
A Queensland Treasury spokesman mentioned the Queensland Income Workplace (QRO) used the most effective info out there to evaluate grant purposes.
"As new info turns into out there, QRO will use this to verify an applicant's eligibility," the spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.
"The place an utility is discovered to have incomplete or inaccurate info, QRO will take steps to make sure the method is truthful for all candidates."
In its letter to Bloomfield, the QRO famous its definition of excavation and web site preparation included land clearing, rehabilitation works, excavation and web site reduce and fill.
Nonetheless, Stockland argued the QRO had didn't correctly distinguish between civil works performed by the developer and excavation web site or preparation works undertaken for particular person dwelling websites.
Newman mentioned she and her accomplice had been left feeling cheated and misled by the grant.
"It simply appears actually unfair and like they've type of made this as much as get out of paying the grant to as many individuals as they'll," she mentioned.
"It is some huge cash for a younger household like ours to not have while you're anticipating to get it - and when you understand that you're entitled to it."
Contact reporter Emily McPherson at emcpherson@9.com.au