There are special rules that apply to commercial leases that fall within the definition of being a “retail lease”.  Under the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW), landlords must, amongst other things, comply with strict deadlines for providing various notices to their tenants.  It is therefore imperative t...

The following is a summary of recent the current state of the various Federal Government Schemes and Grants which apply to first home buyers as well as the recent HomeBuilder Grant scheme.

First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme (FHBAS) – more information is available here.

The FHBAS is a NSW Scheme de...

The responsibility for the payment of the costs of the water usage and electricity for a Kirrawee commercial property was the subject of a dispute dealt with by the District Court in 2017 – AAP Engineering Pty Ltd v Fernlog Pty Ltd [2017] NSWDC 141.

The tenant, Fernlog, leased a portion of the prop...

Case:

Glenquarry Park Investments Pty Ltd v Hegyesi [2019] NSWSC 425

Facts:

The matter related to a dispute between the lot owners of a strata title property at Point Piper in Sydney’s eastern suburbs regarding proposed works on the common property.

The plaintiffs between them owned Lots 3, 5 an...

The main piece of legislation regarding the management of strata schemes is the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW).  Time and time again, clients ask us about the rules for 2 lot strata schemes, and in particular, whether there needs to be an owners corporation and strata levies.

Because of t...

Does your retail or commercial lease provide for an increase with reference to a current market rent? We often have clients who approach us before they renew their lease, concerned about the increase of their rent, and unsure as to their rights regarding the valuation of a “current market rent”.

Th...

What is the best option when leasing commercial properties?

It is now standard practice when acting for landlords in commercial leasing, to request some kind of security from the tenant, typically a bank guarantee or security deposit in the form of a cash bond, and where applicable personal guarant...

A property in North Parramatta was owned by Fabian and his wife, Mina, as tenants-in-common in equal shares.

The plaintiff, Fabian’s brother, Sergio, sought orders for:

• Possession of the land;
• Judgment against the defendant (Mina) for approximately $145,000 (including interest);
• Mina to sign a
...

If you intend to provide monies to relatives, friends or related parties – such that the loan is not an arms’ length transaction, it is important to consider what ramifications that may have on your estate or may cause if you later seek to have that loan repaid.

There is a risk when you are lending...

New laws are expected to come into force on 1 December 2019 when the Conveyancing Legislation (Amendment) Act 2018 and Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Amendment Regulation 2019 commence.

These impose further disclosure requirements on vendors selling off the plan properties and provide new remedies and...

Just because you’ve always done it doesn’t mean you’re actually allowed to.

When talking property, you would think that ownership and the right to access land would be clear cut, but quite often that’s not the case.

Who owns the laneway that cuts between your house and the neighbour’s house?

What...

A 2018 decision by the Supreme Court of New South Wales reinforces the fact that if there is an obvious encroachment on your property over a number of years, it cannot later be denied that an existing use exists.

The matter of Rawson v Studholme [2018] NSWSC 1764 dealt with a right of way that ran ...