To protect our clients and the Australian financial system from financial crime, Hayton Kosky Lawyers complies with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. From Jul 01, 2026, new requirements apply to all legal services involving property transfers, high-value transactions, or the management of client funds. Please use this checklist to ensure your matter...
ConveyancingPropertyFinal Inspection Issues Before Settlement: What Purchasers in Victoria Need to Know
30 March 2026
For many purchasers, the final inspection feels like the last step before settlement. Finance is in place, moving arrangements are underway, and the keys seem close. Then a problem appears. It may be a water stain, a faulty appliance, damage that was not obvious before, or a property that has not been properly cleaned or...
CalculatorsConveyancingMortgagePropertyUnderstanding Mortgage Guarantees: What You Need to Know
8 March 2026
Entering into a mortgage guarantee is a profoundly serious legal commitment. Often required by lenders, a guarantee makes you, the guarantor, responsible for repaying a loan if the borrower fails to meet their obligations. It’s crucial to understand that this is not a secondary commitment. If the borrower defaults, the lender is typically entitled to...
Jumping into the property market as a first-home buyer is exciting, but the journey is often filled with hidden traps. A key pitfall is underestimating the financial reality beyond the deposit. Lenders will scrutinise your ‘serviceability’—your income’s ability to cover the loan—so failing to clean up other debts or not accurately assessing your income can...
CalculatorsConveyancingPropertyUncategorisedUnderstanding Victorian Cladding Risks: What Apartment Buyers Need to Know
6 March 2026
For apartment buyers in Victoria, understanding the risks associated with external combustible cladding is crucial. While cladding provides insulation and weather resistance, certain types—specifically Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)—are considered combustible and may significantly increase the rate at which fire spreads. It is important to know that a ban is in place...
Selling a property in Victoria with recent renovations requires more than just a fresh coat of paint. For owner-builders, Section 137B of the Building Act 1993 creates significant legal hurdles that both practitioners and clients must navigate carefully. What is the s137B Obligation? If a property is sold within six years and six months of...
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on property is an unavoidable reality for investors and even some homeowners. Calculating your liability can often feel like navigating a complex legal maze, leading to stress, costly errors, and delays in financial planning. Accurately determining your tax position is not just about compliance—it’s about optimizing your returns and making informed...
CalculatorsConveyancingPropertyNavigating the Labyrinth: A Guide to Victorian Land Tax for Investors and Professionals
2 March 2026
For property investors and professional advisors in Victoria, the annual Land Tax assessment can feel less like a simple calculation and more like a journey through a complex, ever-shifting labyrinth. As a revenue-generating measure for the state, land tax is a critical, yet often misunderstood, component of property investment. Land Tax Navigator – Land Tax...
CalculatorsConveyancingPropertyThe Quarter-Acre Heart: A Nostalgic Look at the Great Australian Dream
2 March 2026
There’s a certain golden light that shines over our memories of the past—a light that seems to fall brightest on the classic image of the Great Australian Dream. It’s an image etched into the collective soul of a generation: a humble, honest house on a quarter-acre block, perhaps a Hills Hoist in the backyard, and...
Buying property in Victoria involves more than just the purchase price — stamp duty, government fees, and lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) can add tens of thousands of dollars to your upfront costs. To make this easier to navigate, I’ve built a free Victorian Property Purchase Calculator using the latest 2025/26 rates. The calculator handles two...
