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SMSF Lending · Commercial Property · Australia

SMSF commercial property loans

Use your self-managed super fund to buy commercial property — whether you're a business owner buying premises to lease back to your own business, or an investor using your SMSF as the vehicle for a commercial purchase.

Enquire about an SMSF loan → Call 1800 705 505

New & established SMSFs · Purchase or refinance · Up to 80% LVR

Australian business owner outside their commercial premises purchased through an SMSF
80%Max LVR on commercial
Up to 80%Max LVR (P&I)
New & establishedEligible SMSFs
Variable or fixedRate options
Purchase or refinanceLoan purpose
Can you buy commercial property with super?

Yes — and there are two ways SMSFs use commercial property.

A self-managed super fund can borrow to buy commercial, retail or industrial property through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA). Broadly, people do it for one of two reasons: to buy the premises their own business operates from and lease it back to that business, or to invest in commercial property using their SMSF as the vehicle. Greenline works with both — here's how each one works.

Self-employed business owner inside commercial premises owned by their self-managed super fund
Buyer type 1 · Self-employed & business owners

Buy the premises your business operates from

If you run your own business, your SMSF can own the property your business works out of. Your business then leases those premises from your fund at market rent — so the rent you'd otherwise pay a landlord goes into your super and helps fund the loan repayments.

For example: A mechanic's SMSF buys the workshop. His mechanic business leases that workshop back from the SMSF and pays market rent. Those rent payments flow into the fund and service the loan — building his retirement savings while he keeps trading from the same premises.
  • ✓Acquire business real property from a related party at market value
  • ✓Lease it back to your own business on arm's-length commercial terms
  • ✓Rent is paid into your super fund, not to a third-party landlord
  • ✓Common for trades, medical & dental, retail, professional services and light industrial
Buyer type 2 · Commercial property investors

Invest in commercial property through your SMSF

Prefer a straight investment? Your SMSF can buy commercial property leased to an unrelated, arm's-length tenant — using your fund as the vehicle. Rental income and any capital growth accrue inside super, often with concessional tax treatment, and commercial property can help diversify a fund weighted towards shares or residential.

  • ✓Use your SMSF as the vehicle for a commercial purchase
  • ✓Lease to an unrelated, arm's-length tenant at market rent
  • ✓Rental income and growth accrue inside your fund
  • ✓Diversify beyond shares and residential property

Commercial property an SMSF can hold includes offices, retail, industrial units and warehouses, medical and dental suites, and more.

Commercial premises held as an investment by a self-managed super fund
The essentials

SMSF commercial lending at a glance

The standing basics for commercial lending in an SMSF. We'll confirm the finer detail with you directly based on your fund and the property.

Loan purposePurchase or refinance
Rate optionsVariable or fixed
SMSF eligibilityNew & established funds
Maximum LVRUp to 80% P&I · 70% interest only
How an SMSF commercial loan works

From strategy to settlement

01

Set up the structure

Your SMSF and a separate holding (bare) trust are established to hold the property under a limited recourse borrowing arrangement.

02

Get your loan assessed

We assess serviceability on the fund's income and the property's rent, then structure the loan to suit your situation.

03

Purchase the property

The SMSF buys a single commercial asset — either premises your own business will lease, or an investment property with an arm's-length tenant.

04

Repay & build wealth

Rent and contributions service the loan. Once repaid, legal title can transfer from the holding trust to the SMSF.

Why Greenline for SMSF lending

A mortgage manager that approves the deals others decline

Specialist SMSF expertise

We structure SMSF commercial loans day in, day out — for owner-occupiers and investors alike.

We consider more locations

Inner-city, high-density and regional commercial property that many lenders won't touch.

New & established SMSFs

We accept applications from brand-new funds as well as established ones.

Mortgage-manager flexibility

As mortgage managers we can structure the loan to fit your fund, not the other way around.

SMSF commercial questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy commercial property with my SMSF?+
Yes. A self-managed super fund can buy commercial, retail or industrial property using a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA). The SMSF borrows to acquire a single asset held in a separate holding trust, and if repayments aren't met the lender's recourse is limited to that asset. Greenline offers SMSF commercial loans up to 80% LVR for both new and established funds.
Can my business lease the premises my SMSF owns?+
Generally yes. Business real property can be acquired by an SMSF from a related party and leased back to a related party — including your own business — provided the lease is on genuine arm's-length commercial terms at market rent and meets the sole-purpose test and SIS Act rules. This is why many self-employed business owners use their SMSF to buy their own premises. Confirm your situation with a licensed SMSF adviser.
Who is an SMSF commercial loan suited to?+
Two groups in particular. First, self-employed business owners who want their SMSF to own the premises their business operates from and lease it back to that business. Second, investors who want to use their SMSF as the vehicle to buy commercial property leased to an unrelated, arm's-length tenant. Greenline works with both.
How much can I borrow for an SMSF commercial property?+
Greenline offers up to 80% LVR on commercial property for principal and interest, and up to 70% for interest only. On a $400,000 purchase at 80% LVR, your maximum loan is $320,000 — so your SMSF contributes the remaining $80,000 plus acquisition and loan costs.
What is a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA)?+
An LRBA is the structure all SMSF lending must use. The SMSF trustee borrows to buy a single acquirable asset, held in a separate holding trust until the loan is repaid. Returns flow to the SMSF, and if the borrower defaults the lender's rights are limited to that one asset — there's no recourse to the fund's other assets.
What types of commercial property can an SMSF buy?+
Commonly financed commercial security includes offices and showrooms, retail outlets, industrial units, factories and warehouses, and medical or dental suites. Highly specialised or single-use properties with limited resale markets — such as pubs, service stations and farms — are generally harder to finance.
Ready to buy commercial property through super?

Let's structure your SMSF loan.

Speak to a Greenline lender about buying or refinancing commercial property in your self-managed super fund — whether it's premises for your own business or a commercial investment.

Call 1800 705 505 Get in touch

SMSF borrowing is complex and this page is general information only — it is not financial, tax, credit or SMSF advice and does not consider your objectives or circumstances. Consider the appropriateness of any strategy and seek advice from a licensed financial adviser, accountant or SMSF specialist before acting. Lending criteria and LVRs are a guide and subject to lender policy and approval.