A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a private superannuation fund that you manage yourself for your retirement. As a trustee, you're responsible for managing the fund and ensuring it complies with superannuation laws.

Before setting up an SMSF, we recommend speaking with your accountant, financial adviser or other qualified professional to understand whether it's right for your circumstances.

Yes. From 10 August 2026, a new legislative change means an SMSF can no longer take out a new loan to buy a residential property. If your SMSF already holds a loan on residential property, this doesn’t affect you. The change doesn’t apply to commercial property purchases or lending through an SMSF.

In addition to that, the change doesn’t force the sale of residential property already held through an existing Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA) or prevent an SMSF from buying residential property outright without borrowing.

Yes. The new rules only restrict new loans for buying residential property. They don’t affect existing loans or your ability to refinance them. If you already own a residential property through an existing SMSF residential loan, you can refinance it at any time.

Yes. The recent changes only affect new borrowing for residential property. SMSFs can continue to use a LRBA to purchase or refinance commercial property.

At loans.com.au, a one-off security assessment fee applies when refinancing a SMSF residential property loan. For a standard property in a metropolitan area of a major city, fees currently start from $230 for properties valued up to $1 million.

We'll outline any applicable fees and charges before you proceed with your application.

Many other lenders may charge application, annual, exit or discharge fees, so it's important to compare the overall cost of the loan when considering your options.

For a SMSF commercial loan, the only fee you’ll pay to is a one-off security assessment fee, which for a standard property in a metropolitan area in a major city starts at $230 for properties valued up to $1 million. If you are making a purchase, there will also be a $490 legal fee applicable.

Other lenders may charge an application fee, exit fees, annual fees, and discharge fees, so it’s important to do your research before making your decision.

We may be able to refinance eligible residential and offer lending for commercial investment properties held within a SMSF, subject to our lending criteria.

Eligibility will depend on factors such as the property type, location and valuation.

You'll start with a phone appointment with one of our SMSF lending specialists to discuss your refinancing needs and complete your application.

If your loan is pre-approved, you can contact your current lender to request a “Discharge Authority Form” from your existing loan.

Following that, you can submit your documents and monitor your application in real-time via our onTrack portal.

Once the required documents have been signed and returned via onTrack, your loan settles, which means your funds will be ready to be paid out to your previous lender.

You'll remain responsible for your existing loan until the refinance has settled and been confirmed.

When your loan settles, you’ll receive login details to manage your repayments and account details via our Smart Money app.

Refinancing doesn’t change your fund’s investment strategy or the property’s ownership structure. It simply changes who your lender is. You should confirm with your accountant or SMSF advisor that the new loan continues to meet your fund’s borrowing arrangement requirements.

No. Generally, you, your relatives and other related parties cannot live in or rent a residential property owned by your SMSF.

SMSF borrowing arrangements and property investment rules can be complex, so we recommend seeking independent financial, legal and taxation advice, or speaking with your accountant or financial adviser about your individual circumstances.

Some documents you’ll need to refinance include:

• Your recent Super Fund Statement/s evidencing contributions, cash, investments, rental
• Evidence of rental income
• Previous independent legal advice
• 6 months statement of the loan being refinanced
• Certified copies of SMSF Trust Deed and Property Trust Deed

For a full list of documents required, chat to one of our lending specialists on Live Chat or 1300 567 529.