Real Estate and Development
Sectors
Expertise
Type
Order
Buying Australian property and business from overseas
Australia has strict rules and regulations about foreign investment. The Australian government classifies you as a foreign person if you intend to buy residential or commercial property in this country if you are not: A citizen of Australia A permanent resident of Australia A New Zealand citizen with a special category visa A permanent resident...
Gasworks Case Study – Sunset Clause
In a recent decision bound to have widespread ramifications, a developer has been found to have given a notice of contract termination which was “unlawful, invalid and of no effect”. During the case (JYP Jiang Pty Ltd V CAV Gasworks Pty Ltd [2025] QSC 134), the court found the developer had wrongfully terminated an...
Building allowance – what is it and how does it work?
The building allowance is a deduction that allows property investors to offset construction costs of their investment property against their tax assessable income. The deduction is available for: buildings or extensions, alterations, or improvements to a building alterations and improvements to a leased building, including shop fit outs and leasehold improvements structural improvements such as...
Sun Sets on Sunset Clauses
The Queensland State Government has brought in changes to strengthen protection for buyers involved in “off-the-plan” property contracts. Off-the-plan land contracts often include a clause that allows for the contract to be terminated if a certain event does not happen by the “sunset date”, known generally in the industry as a sunset clause. Previously, a...
Buying waterfront property
It’s the dream of many Queenslanders to have a home right on the waterfront, with access to your very own jetty or pontoon. Before diving into purchasing a property with water access, there are a few legal issues to consider. Leasing arrangements for jetties and pontoons Firstly, what are the leasing arrangements for the jetty...
Land titles practice manual: the latest updates
Keeping you informed at GLG Legal Here at GLG Legal, we aim to keep you up to date with all the changes that impact on you, our clients, and more widely across the legal landscape. Recent updates to the land titles practice manual Recently, some significant amendments were made to the Land Titles Practice Manual,...
Building management statement – A developer’s perspective
As a property developer, when should I use a Building Management Statement and how is it to my advantage? This is the second in a series on Building Management Statements (BMS). For general commentary on BMS please refer to our earlier report at the following link Legislative framework The statutory framework for a BMS is...
Development approval clauses – what are they and how do you ensure...
Understanding “subject to development approval” Developing a property or piece of land comes with its own risks and rewards but what does it mean when a contract says, “subject to development approval”? Reusing clauses without review Developers and real estate agents often use a subject to development approval clause from a previous contract, without considering...
What is a Building Management Statement?
When is a BMS involved? If your strata title building includes a large commercial component for office or retail, chances are your Body Corporate is a party to a Building Management Statement (BMS). What is a BMS? A BMS is a document used to regulate the relationship between two or more large users of a...
What is a Tenancy Agreement?
A tenancy agreement is a legally binding written document that must be used whenever anyone is renting a home from you – even if that person is a friend or family member. The agreement outlines the legal rights and responsibilities of the property owner and the tenants, and it applies to everyone renting the property,...
Why you definitely need a lawyer in property conveyancing
The property conveyancer will also act as your representative in court if necessary. This is usually only required, if there is a dispute over the ownership of the property or, if one of the parties fails to adhere to the terms of the sale. In these cases, the conveyancer will fight for your interests to...
Development Approval Clauses – What are they and how do you ensure...
Developing a property or piece of land comes with its own risks and rewards but what does it mean when a contract says, “subject to development approval”? Developers and real estate agents often use a subject to development approval clause from a previous contract, without considering whether that clause is right for the new contract....