The Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), now called the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), has given thousands of Australians the chance to access education they might not have been able to afford otherwise. It’s helped many pursue their goals without worrying about upfront costs.
But there’s another side to the story. While the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sets repayment thresholds that seem manageable, HELP debt can quietly limit how much you can borrow, especially when it comes to buying a home. What starts as a way to support your education can later become a financial hurdle. This brings us to an important question: how do banks see HECS debt, and how does it affect your chances of getting a home loan?
What Do Banks Think Of HECS Debt?
Like personal loans, car finance, credit cards or dependent children, a HELP loan is treated the same way as any other liability.
The bank runs what is known as a serviceability test to compare your level of income with your current debts and liabilities and determine whether you can afford the loan you want.
If you’re in a strong position, you should have a certain surplus income, which means you can qualify for the amount you’re looking to borrow.
If your debt-to-income level is high, your borrowing capacity could be restricted.
Each bank uses its serviceability calculation.
Even though the National Consumer Credit Protection Act prohibits lenders from approving loans that would put borrowers into financial hardship, it doesn’t provide specific guidelines on how the banks should do this.
Because of this, each lender has its level of risk that it’s willing to accept when assessing your mortgage application.
Please call us on 1300 889 743 or complete our free assessment form to discover how we can help you qualify for a mortgage.
Before You Buy: The Importance of Borrowing Power
The Secrets Of Borrowing Power And Maximising Your Mortgage Potential
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How Much Am I Paying In HECS Right Now?
You don’t start paying HECS-HELP until you reach a certain income level. Even once you reach higher income levels, the repayments are negligible because you don’t pay back any interest on the debt like a normal loan. Instead, part of your yearly income is withheld by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as per your income level. Here are the current repayment income thresholds and rates for HELP.
| Taxable Income | Repayment rate |
|---|---|
| Below $54,435 | Nil |
| $54,435-$62,850 | 1.0% |
| $62,851-$66,620 | 2.0% |
| $66,621-$70,618 | 2.5% |
| $70,619-$74,855 | 3.0% |
| $74,856-$79,346 | 3.5% |
| $79,347-$84,107 | 4.0% |
| $84,108-$89,154 | 4.5% |
| $89,155-$94,503 | 5.0% |
| $94,504-$100,174 | 5.5% |
| $100,175-$106,185 | 6.0% |
| $106,186-$112,556 | 6.5% |
| $112,557-$119,309 | 7.0% |
| $119,310-$126,467 | 7.5% |
| $126,468-$134,056 | 8.0% |
| $134,057-$142,100 | 8.5% |
| $142,101-$150,626 | 9.0% |
| $150,627-$159,663 | 9.5% |
| $159,664 and above | 10% |
Please refer to the ATO website for updates to the current repayment schedule.
Example Of HELP Debt Affecting Borrowing Power
The situation
Let’s say that Harry and Sally wanted to borrow $600,000 to purchase their first home.
Sally is a personal assistant and earns $40,000 per annum.
Harry is a paralegal earning around $55,000 in taxable income.
The couple have no children, no credit cards and no personal loans.
Overall, they live within their means and don’t spend a lot on luxury items.
However, Harry has $40,000 owing on his HECS-HELP debt from completing his law degree.
This works out to be around $183 per month based on his income level and the lowest repayment rate for HECS-HELP debt at 4.0%.
It doesn’t sound like much but it has a huge impact on his ability to borrow the amount he needs.
As you can see below, with three of Australia’s largest banks, Harry and Sally’s surplus income is in the red:
- SBG: -$702
- CBA: -$688
- NAB: -$506
Because of Harry’s large HELP debt, he and Sally would be restricted to borrowing around $576,000 with one of our major lenders.
The Solution
The first option is to pay down the HECS debt but it’s actually the option that is the least feasible in getting their foot into the property market.
Assuming that Harry continues to earn the same salary, it would take over 18 years to pay off his HELP loan!
The next option would be for Harry to get a pay rise.
He’s currently earning $55,000 but if he were to get a significant pay rise to $68,000, the couple could qualify with one of the major lenders with a surplus income of $86.
However, getting such a large pay rise is still a couple of years off since Harry just started working as a paralegal.
In the meantime, property prices will likely to continue to rise, making it even harder to get into the market.
On top of that, he moves up two levels on the ATO’s repayment rate schedule to 5.0% per annum or $275 per month.
Because of this, Harry and Sally’s choice of lenders is significantly reduced.
Result
After speaking with their mortgage broker, the best option for the couple is to try and come up with larger deposit or try for a cheaper property.
Our best lender is able to consider their application at a little over $576,000.
Harry and Sally could qualify by either:
- Saving a deposit themselves.
- Asking one of their parents to gift them the funds.
- Asking one of their parents to act as a guarantor on their mortgage.
How Else Can I Improve My Borrowing Power?
Apart from earning a higher income, there are other ways to improve your borrowing capacity or serviceability:
- Live within your means by cutting out unnecessary spending on luxury items like entertainment and holidays.
- Cut all unnecessary debts such as credit cards and make extra repayments to pay down existing debts like personal loans faster.
- Be honest about how much you can afford to borrow and speak to your mortgage broker to crunch the numbers as to how big your mortgage repayments will be.
Check out our page on improving your borrowing power for more tips, and then have a go at the borrowing power calculator to find out where you stand.
What Are The New Changes?
In 2022-23, all study and training loans are now covered by one set of thresholds and rates.
Additionally, the hierarchy in which compulsory repayment thresholds and rates are applied to study and training loans was changed to the following:
- Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- VET Student Loan (VSL)
- Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS)
- Student Start-up Loan (SSL)
- ABSTUDY Student Start-up Loan (ABSTUDY SSL)
- Trade Support Loan (TSL)
Do You Have HECS-HELP Debt?
Our team of mortgage brokers examine every detail of your unique situation, ensuring you’re paired with a lender who doesn’t just see numbers, but understands your circumstances and aspirations.
With clear guidance, we help you break free from the barriers of HECS debt. Owning your dream home isn’t just possible, it’s within reach. Let us show you how.
Call us on 1300 889 743 or fill in our online enquiry form.