All publications relating to ‘Property’
Smart developers ride the slipstream of NSW’s $73 billion infrastructure investment
I work near Wynyard, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Like everyone else in the city I rarely need reminding that the State Government is investing heavily in infrastructure — though I do sometimes need reminding how to get across George Street while it’s being dug up for light rail. There are frustrations…
Developers play critical role building world-class Smart Cities across Australia
Any of us who has sat in gridlocked traffic on our way to the airport, faced a long train commute between home and work, and regularly struggles to find innovative young talent to employ, is unlikely to question the need for smarter cities. Australia needs cities – both metropolitan and regional –…
Amended Land and Environment Court Practices
IN SUMMARY The Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court has issued new practice directions for policies aimed at streamlining merit appeals. Multiple adjournments of conciliation conferences with parties slowly meandering in an effort to reach agreement will no longer be permitted. If applicants wish to rely on amended plans…
Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill
The State Government has released the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2017. The Bill is on public exhibition until 10 March 2017. Proposed amendments of note include:Development Applications The requirement to give reasons why a DA was determined the way it was. The reasons are designed to inform the community as…
The What, How and Why of Put and Call options
In Brief Put and call options are a useful way of allowing parties to enter into an agreement to sell or acquire land at a future point in time, requiring minimum upfront commitment. In the most simplistic of terms, rights granted under a put and call option are a future right to compel a seller…
Top Ten Tips for Landlord Leasing
This article contains some useful tips and insights on matters of importance for landlord leasing. The information is general in nature and does not take into account any personal circumstances. Get your commercial terms in order The document which sets out the agreed commercial terms of a lease has several different names…
Government and ATO tighten laws in relation to sale of property by foreign residents
IN BRIEF It’s all about low voluntary compliance by foreign residents who sell Australian property – and the government is tightening tax laws to shift the compliance burden on certain transactions. It’s complex – and it comes into effect on 1 July 2016. In this article, Daniel Kentwell addressess how the…
Protecting In-house Counsel’s advice
In brief Swaab believe the recent case of Holman v Warringah Council [2015] brings some clarity to the law surrounding legal professional privilege, especially when it comes to information prepared by in-house counsel. The question is – in what circumstances can legal professional privilege be claimed over information prepared by in-house counsel? What…
Breaking News: the sun is setting on unfair use of sunset clauses in off-the-plan sales!
In brief The recent amendment to the Conveyancing Act by the NSW Government has shifted the balance in relation to strata developments. For a long time, the perception has been that developers have held all the power in off-the-plan contracts. Daniel Kentwell shares his insights. Terms: “off the plan contract” (for the…
NSW strata reform: a different kind of deposition
In brief ‘Strata housing’ is a term that originated from the field of geology, where different ‘strata’ were the layers of sedimentary rock or soil that had been deposed over thousands of years. A more important type of deposition, however, may be the one you face if you infringe upon the ‘Strata…