FLISP Subsidy Calculator
Check your First Home Finance eligibility and see how much your government subsidy saves you
Three levels of detail — pick yours
Household income → subsidy amount + eligibility + monthly payment comparison. Instant result.
Subsidy impact bar chart, full income bracket explorer with your position highlighted, and max affordability with FLISP.
Combined household income modelling (two-income check), full application checklist, and complete before/after financial picture.
What Is FLISP (First Home Finance)?
FLISP — now officially called First Home Finance — is a South African government housing subsidy administered by the Department of Human Settlements. It is designed to help low-to-middle income earners who do not qualify for a fully subsidised RDP home but also cannot afford to buy in the open market without assistance.
The subsidy is a once-off payment made directly to the bond (or seller if paying cash) that reduces the loan amount — and therefore the monthly repayment and total interest paid over the life of the bond. For a household earning R12,000/month, the subsidy is approximately R65,000.
Example: Sipho and Lindiwe earning R12,000/month combined
Property price: R600,000 | Deposit: R0 | Bond: R600,000
FLISP subsidy: ~R65,000
Net bond after subsidy: R535,000
Monthly payment without FLISP: ~R5,924/month
Monthly payment with FLISP: ~R5,282/month
Monthly saving: ~R642 | Total interest saved over 20 years: ~R154,000
FLISP Eligibility Requirements
- Combined gross household income between R3,501 and R22,000 per month
- South African citizen or permanent resident
- At least 18 years old
- Have financial dependants (spouse, partner, or children)
- Have never owned residential property or received a government housing subsidy before
- Have an approved home loan from an approved South African financial institution
- The property must be your primary residence
Single applicants without dependants do not qualify for FLISP. The subsidy targets households — you must have a spouse/partner or children as dependants.
FLISP Subsidy Amount by Income Bracket
The subsidy amount decreases as household income increases. The table below shows the key income brackets and their corresponding subsidy amounts.
| Monthly Income (Gross) | FLISP Subsidy |
|---|---|
| R3 501 – R3 700 | R169 264 |
| R3 701 – R5 500 | R130 000 |
| R5 501 – R5 700 | R110 506 |
| R5 701 – R7 100 | R106 000 |
| R7 101 – R7 300 | R102 893 |
| R7 301 – R10 000 | R85 000 |
| R10 001 – R10 200 | R69 104 |
| R10 201 – R15 000 | R65 000 |
| R15 001 – R15 200 | R62 304 |
| R15 201 – R18 000 | R53 000 |
| R18 001 – R18 200 | R44 203 |
| R18 201 – R21 800 | R36 000 |
| R21 801 – R22 000 | R27 960 |
Subsidy amounts are set by the Department of Human Settlements and may be adjusted periodically. Values shown are for the 2025/2026 period.
How to Apply for FLISP
- Get a home loan approved — you must have a written bond approval from a South African bank first. The bond approval is a prerequisite for the FLISP application.
- Complete the FLISP application form — available from the Department of Human Settlements, your bank, or a bond originator. Gather FICA documents, payslips, and the bank's offer to grant.
- Submit through your bank or originator — most major banks (Absa, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank) process FLISP on behalf of their clients. Bond originators like ooba and BetterBond also assist.
- Wait for approval and payment — the subsidy is paid directly to the bond attorney or to reduce the outstanding bond. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks.
The subsidy can be used as part of your deposit or to reduce the bond amount. Using it to reduce the bond amount is usually more tax-efficient and maximises interest savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use FLISP as a deposit to get a 100% bond?
Yes. The FLISP subsidy can serve as your deposit, helping you qualify for a 100% bond. In practice, you apply for a bond first, and once approved, you submit the FLISP application. The subsidy is then applied to reduce the outstanding balance. This means you technically take a 100% bond and the subsidy reduces it — you still need cash for the transaction costs (transfer and bond registration fees), which are not covered by FLISP.
What happens if my income changes after I receive FLISP?
FLISP is assessed at the time of application based on your income at that point. If your income increases after you receive the subsidy, you are not required to repay it — the subsidy is not means-tested on an ongoing basis. However, if you provide false income information to qualify, you could face penalties.
Does FLISP cover transfer costs and attorney fees?
No. The FLISP subsidy is applied to reduce the bond amount only. You still need to pay all transaction costs — transfer duty, transfer attorney fees, bond registration attorney fees, Deeds Office fees and bank initiation fee — from your own funds. This is why buyers should budget for costs separately, typically 8–12% of the property price.
Can I apply for FLISP on a new development?
Yes. FLISP can be used for both existing and new properties, including new developments from registered developers. The property must be your primary residence and you must have an approved home loan. Some developers in the affordable housing space market their developments specifically to FLISP-eligible buyers.
Is there a maximum property price for FLISP?
There is no explicit property price cap in the FLISP regulations, but in practice the subsidy is most impactful — and most commonly used — for properties in the R350,000–R650,000 range, which is where it aligns with bank-approved bond amounts for households earning R3,501–R22,000/month. The key requirement is that you have a bank-approved bond, and the bank will assess affordability based on your income.