Development Site Legal Check
Buying land to build a duplex, granny flat or subdivide? Know what the title and planning records say before you commit.
- Fixed price, searches included
- Title, easements, covenants and planning constraints reviewed by a lawyer
- Plain English report within 3 business days
- Available in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA
Before You Buy
A Good Block Can Still Carry a Hidden Restriction
A covenant, an easement through the middle of the block or a planning constraint can stop a duplex, granny flat or subdivision before it starts.
Thinking of buying land to subdivide property or build? Our Development Site Legal Check is a fixed-price review of the legal records for the land, done before you sign, so you know what you are buying into and what to raise with the agent, your planner or your architect.
What You Receive
What We Check
A written report in plain English, tailored to the development you have in mind.
Title
Who owns the land, and every easement on the property, covenant, restriction and other interest registered on the title that could limit what you build.
Planning Records
The zoning, and the constraints recorded against the land, such as flood, bushfire, heritage, contamination and road widening.
Legal Risks for Your Plan
What those records mean for the development you have in mind, and what to resolve or raise before you buy.
Fixed Pricing
One Price, Searches Included
No separate search bills. The price for your state covers our report and the standard title and planning searches.
Development Site Legal Check
New South Wales
Report, title, plan, up to 3 registered dealings, planning certificate and sewer diagramVictoria
Report, title, plan, up to 3 registered instruments and planning certificateQueensland
Report, title, survey plan, up to 3 registered dealings and environmental register searchWestern Australia
Report, title, plan or diagram and up to 3 registered documentsAdd-ons
Each additional title
For sites made up of more than 1 lot, searches includedEach registered dealing over 3
Search and review of each further easement, covenant or restrictionExpress report
Report within 1 business day of the searches arrivingSecond development objective
For example, a duplex and also a 2-lot subdivisionPrices include GST. The standard report covers 1 title, up to 3 registered dealings and 1 development objective for residential or rural residential land. Commercial, industrial, strata and community title properties are quoted separately. Payment is made at booking, searches are ordered once payment clears, and search costs cannot be refunded once ordered.
Going ahead with the purchase? We credit $250 of your report fee against our contract review or conveyancing fee if you engage us for the same property within 90 days.
Book a Legal CheckStep by Step
How It Works
Book and Pay Online
Tell us the property address and what you plan to build, and pay the fixed price for your state.
We Order the Searches
Or send us the contract if the property is listed, and we will use the documents attached where they are current.
Receive Your Report
Usually within 3 business days of the searches arriving, or 1 business day on express.
Who It Is For
Home Buyers
Planning a granny flat or duplex and want to know the block will allow it before signing.
Investors and SMSF Trustees
Buying a development site and wanting the title and planning risks set out before committing funds.
Owners
Wondering whether the back yard could become a second lot, and whether anything on title stands in the way.
Buyer’s Agents and Architects
Wanting a fast, fixed-price legal check before their client commits to a site.
Other property services we provide.