Introduction: Planning for Profit, Not Pitfalls In Victoria’s dynamic property market, success for developers is increasingly defined by strategic foresight rather than chance. With the state’s planning system undergoing significant updates in 2025, including changes to ResCode and the introduction of new development standards, understanding the legal landscape is more critical than ever. This is...
A Practitioner’s Guide to High-Risk Conveyancing Encounters An Anonymous Perspective from the Legal Trenches Disclaimer: This post reflects the anonymous author’s professional observations and experience. It is intended for educational discussion only. No specific allegations are made against any individual or entity. There comes a moment in many practitioners’ careers when a contract lands on...
CriminalMortgagePropertyWhen Criminal Law Collides with Property Law: Erin Patterson, Legal Fees, and the DPP’s Restraining Order
31 July 2025
The intersection of criminal prosecutions and private property rights often creates legal complexity, particularly where property is both the subject of private contractual dealings and potential criminal forfeiture. The recent case of Erin Patterson—convicted in July 2025 in relation to the tragic mushroom poisoning of three family members—has raised critical legal issues about the priorities...
CriminalPropertyTrustThe Unwavering Line: Why Legal Practitioners Must Never Backdate Documents
30 July 2025
In the legal profession, integrity is the cornerstone upon which justice is built. A lawyer’s duty to the court and to the administration of justice is paramount, demanding unimpeachable honesty. Following our discussion of the fundamental rules a legal practitioner must adhere to, we now turn to a critical and absolute prohibition: the backdating...
ConveyancingPropertySelling the Unsellable: How Full Disclosure Unlocked Value in Solomon Heights, Melbourne’s ‘Zombie Subdivision’
28 July 2025
A Century-Old Riddle: The Challenge of Selling “Unsaleable” Land In the complex tapestry of Melbourne’s property market, few areas present a more tangled and seemingly hopeless case than the Solomon Heights Estate in Sunshine North. Described in a recent feature by The Age as Melbourne’s “worst case of urban blight” and a “zombie subdivision,” it...
LeasesPropertyUncategorisedIs Your Commercial Lease Secretly a Retail Lease? A Victorian Landlord’s Guide
24 July 2025
It’s a scenario becoming all too common across Victoria: a landlord and tenant sign what appears to be a standard commercial lease. All seems well for years until a dispute arises, or the tenant, facing rising costs, makes a startling claim: the lease is, in fact, a retail lease governed by the Retail Leases Act...
ConveyancingLeasesPropertyVCAT Strikes Down Exit Fees in Victorian Land Lease Communities: What This Means for Retirement Housing Law
23 July 2025
Introduction: A Game-Changing Decision for Victorian Retirement Housing On 7 July 2025, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) President Justice Ted Woodward delivered a landmark ruling that fundamentally challenges the business model underpinning Victoria’s land lease community sector. In proceedings brought by over 80 residents of the Wollert Lifestyle Community against Lifestyle Management 2 Pty...
The promise is seductive: sell your large family home, pocket the difference, and move into a sleek apartment where someone else handles the maintenance while you enjoy your golden years mortgage-free. Government incentives sweeten the deal with superannuation concessions and stamp duty breaks. Real estate agents paint pictures of carefree living with resort-style amenities just...
Adverse PossessionPropertyAfter Generations of Struggle: Victoria’s First Exclusive Native Title Victory Marks Historic Justice for Millewa-Mallee Peoples
19 July 2025
On a crisp Friday morning in July 2025, as the winter sun cast long shadows across the red earth of the Mallee, three proud First Nations communities received news that their ancestors had been waiting to hear for more than two centuries. In a landmark Federal Court ruling that will forever change the landscape of...
Protecting Property Buyers from Hidden Defect Exclusions When purchasing property, the excitement of finding the perfect home or investment can overshadow one of the most crucial steps in the transaction process: obtaining a professional review of the contract of sale before signing. Overlooking this step can be costly, as many standard contracts contain clauses that...
