Self-managed super fund lending

SMSF Loans for Commercial Property

Borrow through your SMSF to buy business premises, including the one your own business operates from, structured with your accountant and placed with specialist lenders.

Commercial warehouse premises at dusk
Rule change · 10 Aug 2026

SMSFs can no longer take out new loans to buy residential property. Existing residential SMSF loans are grandfathered and can still be refinanced, and borrowing for business premises is unaffected.

How it’s structured

Four Parties, One Asset. Tap Each to See Its Role.

This is a limited recourse borrowing arrangement. The structure is what protects the rest of your fund.

Your SMSFYour fund’s trustee is the borrower. The fund pays the deposit and costs, receives the rent and makes the repayments.
↺Rent from the tenant flows back into the fund and services the loan, alongside your super contributions.
Quick check

What Commercial Property Could Your Fund Buy?

Indicative only. Assumes 70% lending, ~6% purchase costs and a 10% liquidity buffer kept in the fund. Serviceability also depends on contributions and rent.

Indicative commercial purchase price$1,125,000
Loan amount$787,500
Paid by the fund$405,000
Buffer kept$45,000
Confirm With a Strategy Call →
The rules

What Your SMSF Can and Can’t Do

Business owner opening the door of their own premises
The most popular strategy: your SMSF buys your business premises and leases it back to your business at market rent.
Allowed
✓Borrow to buy commercial property used wholly in a business
✓Buy your own business premises and lease it back at market rent
✓Refinance an existing SMSF loan to a better rate
✓Repair and maintain the property
Not allowed
✕Buy property from a related party unless it’s business real property
✕Use the property privately, or let members use it outside a market-rate business lease
✕Use borrowed funds to renovate or change the property
✕Hold more than one asset under a single loan
The process

How an SMSF Purchase Comes Together

01
Strategy callWe check fund balance, contributions and the purchase you have in mind.
02
Structure checkWe confirm the trust deed, bare trust and lender policy with your accountant.
03
Approval & settlementApplication, valuation and settlement through the specialist lender.
04
Annual reviewRate and structure review alongside your fund’s annual audit.
Questions

SMSF Loan FAQs

Can’t see yours? Read the full FAQ or call 02 9816 9866.

Business real property: commercial premises such as offices, warehouses and shops used wholly in a business. The property is held in a bare trust until the loan is repaid.

Other loans