Please note that as of January 1, 2026, Hayton Kosky Lawyers will not be accepting any new instructions for matters relating to adverse possession or boundary disputes. We will continue to provide our full range of other legal services. For information on our other areas of practice, please visit our website. Adverse possession and boundary...
Adverse PossessionPropertyGood Fences, Bad Blood: A Legal Look at the Rinehart Fence Dispute (NSW)
31 January 2026
Robert Frost’s famous line — “Good fences make good neighbours” — is often treated as rural gospel. Mark the boundary, keep the peace, and move on. But a dispute now heading through the NSW Supreme Court shows how quickly a fence can become something far bigger than timber, wire and posts. In a case attracting...
ConveyancingMortgagePropertyMortgage Fraud in Australia: How Fraudsters Exploit Banking Systems and Professional Networks
19 January 2026
The Australian mortgage market, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars, has become an increasingly attractive target for sophisticated fraudsters. Recent high-profile cases have exposed vulnerabilities in bank approval processes and revealed how corrupt professionals—including mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and lawyers—can work in coordinated networks to perpetrate massive fraud schemes. Understanding these tactics is...
ConveyancingPropertySuperannuationSERV Victoria: A Comprehensive Overview of Land Registry Services
7 January 2026
January 2026 Executive Summary This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Secure Electronic Registries Victoria (SERV), the private operator of Victoria’s Land Titles and Registry functions. It addresses key questions regarding SERV’s ownership structure, the range of services it provides, and the specific land registry functions the Victorian Government has retained since the 2018 privatisation....
ConveyancingPropertyThe Cost of Commercialisation: Why Home Owners Face Rising Land Registry Fees Despite the SERV Concession
7 January 2026
The Victorian government is facing renewed scrutiny over its management of the Land Registry, with a proposal to significantly increase fees raising concerns that the public is now paying the price for a 2018 concession sold to the private operator, SERV. Despite ceding control of land registry operations for 40 years, the government is moving...
ConveyancingEstate PlanningPropertyDownsize, Don’t Disappear: Seven Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of Retirement Downsizing
22 December 2025
The promise of retirement downsizing is a delectable dream: no lawns to mow, a low-maintenance lifestyle, a hefty mortgage paid off, and cash left over for travel and fun. But for many Australians, the reality is a transition “soured by a lot of things that happened along the way,” turning into a “claustrophobic nightmare”. The...
ConveyancingEstate PlanningPropertyThe Bank of Mum and Dad: Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Helping Your Kids Buy a Home
21 December 2025
The Bank of Mum and Dad is one of Australia’s biggest lenders, a testament to the generosity of parents helping their children navigate an increasingly unaffordable property market. However, as well-intentioned as this help may be, it is a financial minefield, and emotional decisions without legal and financial advice can lead to costly mistakes—potentially hundreds...
ConveyancingPropertyThe Real Story Behind “Anywhere but Victoria” for Property Investors
19 December 2025
The phrase “Anywhere but Melbourne” or “Anywhere but Victoria” has become a growing sentiment among property investors, and the data reveals a startling truth behind this market exodus. A closer look at the Victorian rental market shows that thousands of landlords are quietly exiting, leaving behind a profound void and reshaping the property landscape The...
PropertyUncategorisedSingle Dwelling Covenants: The Private Agreements Coming Under Public Fire
5 December 2025
For decades, private agreements known as restrictive covenants have shaped the character of many Melbourne suburbs, often guaranteeing large blocks and low-density housing. Thousands of these covenants exist, frequently introduced by developers or struck between property owners to prevent subdivisions and second dwellings. However, these agreements—which in some cases can be set 50 or 100...
Introduction During his tenure as the 43rd Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett spearheaded a series of radical reforms that reshaped the state’s political and economic landscape. Among the most significant of these were the sweeping amalgamations of local councils and the introduction of a cap on council rate increases. At the time, these measures were...
