Don't get caught by the fine print. The Dad & Dave case highlights the importance of providing clear and early instructions to your lawyer regarding lease renewals.... whether you are a Landlord or a Tenant!

The Home Building Amendment Act 2011 is now in force. It amends the Home Building Act 1989, the Home Building Regulation 2004 and the Civil Liability Act 2002.

It is no secret that more and more people are using their SMSF to invest in property and also to borrow through their SMSF to fund the acquisition. So what are the benefits to you?

Can a lease become binding before both parties sign the lease? A recent decision in the Supreme Court of NSW (Wayne Edward John Streat v Fantastic Holdings (2011)) illustrates the fact that a lease can become binding even when only one of the parties has signed the document.

On 19 December 2012, the Australian Tax Office issued a new GST ruling – GSTR 2012/5 – by which it seems to have changed its view on how you determine whether premises are residential or otherwise, for the purposes of GST. How will this new ruling affect you?

This Plain English Guide answers some of the more commonly asked questions about buying real estate 'off the plan' and should be read in conjunction with Coleman & Greig's Plain English Guide to Buying Real Estate.

There are few more important transactions than buying real estate. You are making a major financial investment and the purchase is likely to result in changes to your personal life. Buying real estate is usually an emotional process and it is important to make sure that you are not “blinded” by this emotion.

Most home units, town houses or villas in New South Wales are held under Strata or Community Title. Strata and Community titles are particular types of Torrens Title. When you own a house or a block of land you have absolute ownership of not only the house and land but also the air space above the land and the earth underneath. This is known as “absolute” ownership of the whole vertical column.

The sale of your home is likely to be one of the most important transactions you enter into. Not only will substantial amounts of money be involved but the event will involve a significant change in your personal affairs.

Independence is one thing that we strive to maintain as we get older. However, at one stage or another, we may all face the possibility of moving into a Retirement Village or Aged Care Facility, or arranging the move for a family member or loved one.

Ratchet clauses and market rent reviews in retail shop leases do not mix.

Retail shop leases commonly provide for occasions where the rent would be changed to the current market rent for the retail shop premises. Where the parties to the lease do not reach agreement on what the actual amount of that current market rent is to be, they can jointly appoint a specialist retail valuer to make that determination.

This article reviews a recent trend in retirement village contracts that could have a significant financial impact on the family of residents leaving a village, or passing away. Don't get caught by the fine print!

Termination of leases can be a complex minefield from both a practical and legal perspective. As a landlord, you need to understand both how to legally terminate a lease, and when to terminate!

With a myriad of additional costs and potential taxes, you need to consider a number of fiscal issues before accepting an offer by a prospective purchaser - the figure may not actually be enough!