Licence Agreements in Victoria – Everything you need to know. Have you purchased a new residential or commercial property but don’t want to wait until settlement to move in? Or have you sold your property but have concerns you won’t be ready to move out by the settlement date?…Keep reading! What are licence agreements? A […]

In Victoria, when you buy or sell a property, you will need a legal contract known as the Contract of Sale. This contract depicts the particulars of sale and ensures that both parties are clear about their obligations. It is usually prepared by a legal practitioner or conveyancer and both the purchaser (buyer) and vendor […]

Owning your own home is every Australian’s dream. Unfortunately, as you probably already know, it’s a very expensive dream. Luckily, the Victorian government offers a number of tax exemptions for homeowners, including the principal place of residence exemption for land tax. Your principal place of residence (PPR) — that is, the place where you live […]

Victorian HomeBuilder applications must have been submitted by midnight 14 April 2021. Supporting documents can be uploaded after this date as needed; however, the main application must be lodged. Many Victorians have struggled as a result of COVID-19. The government is doing its part to help get things back on track, with a significant initiative […]

On 1 December 2019, laws to improve pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria. New registration, inspection and certificate requirements are now imposed on property which has a pool and spa. The new laws apply to swimming pools and spas that are capable of holding more than 300 mm (30 cm) of water. […]

If you are buying or selling a residential property in Australia — or even land that could be used to build a residential property (also known as ‘potential residential land’) — you will need to be aware of your GST withholding obligations. That being said, it can be tricky to understand exactly what you are obliged […]

Requirements under Section 137B Section 137B of the Building Act 1993 (VIC) requires owner builders of residential property to obtain a building report which is not less than six (6) months old and provide this to potential purchasers of the property. Owners builders are also required to obtain domestic building insurance under Section 135 of the Building […]

Who is classified as a foreign property purchaser? A foreign purchaser is a person who is not an Australian citizen,  a person who does not have Australian permanent residency, a foreign corporation or a trustee of a foreign trust.  New Zealand citizens with a special category visa (Subclass 444) are classified as permanent residents if […]

Key changes to the Sale of Land Act 1962 The Sale of Land Amendment Act 2019 makes a number of amendments to the Sale of Land Act 1962, including an amendment to Section 12(d) and the insertion of Section 12A. Section 12A of the Act (as amended) states: “The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria may […]

Sunset Clauses: Retrospective Protection Against Dodgy Developers Parliament passed the Sale of Land Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) (Bill) on 28 May 2019. This Bill brought into effect retrospective legislation relating to sunset dates (also known as the latest date for registration) in the off-the-plan contracts of sale. What are Sunset Clauses? A “sunset clause” is a condition […]