Australia: Real Estate

Buying property with friends or family can make home ownership more achievable, but it also creates important legal and financial obligations. Before buying, consider whether to own the property as joint tenants or tenants in common, how each person will contribute to costs, what happens if someone wants to sell or can no longer make payments, and how each owner’s interest will be dealt with if they die or want to sell. A co-ownership agreement can document each owner’s rights and responsibilities and establish a process for managing changes or disputes.

A New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal case examines when an owners corporation can lawfully enter a lot without owner consent to repair common property under emergency provisions. The dispute centered on whether ongoing water leakage constituted an emergency justifying entry, and what damages flow from such access.

South Australia's Stamp Duties (Residential Purposes and Residential Land) Amendment Act 2026 (Amendment Act) came into operation on 15 September 2026 and introduced significant amendments...

From October 2026, all new and returning strata committee members in New South Wales will be required to complete mandatory online training within three months of their appointment...

The commercial real estate sector is undergoing a significant technological transformation, with artificial intelligence increasingly deployed across operational and strategic functions.

Separating from a partner is hard enough without also having to work out who’s staying in the family home. Some couples manage to keep living under the same roof for a while after separating, but that’s not always realistic, especially where things have turned hostile or there’s a risk of family violence.

Agreements for Lease (AFLs) are critical instruments in the delivery of purpose-built facilities, particularly in retail and commercial developments where tenant requirements shape the design and construction process. Unlike standard leasing arrangements, AFLs sit at the intersection of development risk, construction delivery and leasing outcomes.

On 29 July 2026, the Supreme Court of Victoria handed down its judgment in ISPT Pty Ltd as trustee for ISPT Retail Australia Property Trust v Commissioner of State Revenue [2026] VSC 480, dismissing the taxpayer’s appeal against the Commissioner of State Revenue’s determination in relation to the acquisition of a “significant interest” in a landholder under the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) (Duties Act).

Bartier Perry recently acted for homeowners in two separate cases in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal). In both matters the homeowners were successful, demonstrating that builders who perform residential building works and fail to comply with the statutory warranties pursuant to section 18B of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) (the HBA) could face significant financial liability.