Property
Last updated: January 2020

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The information set out on this page is intended as an introduction only and should not be relied on in place of legal advice. 

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To make contact with a legal centre specific to your location

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I signed a contract to buy a property but it was then destroyed or damaged.

 

Can I withdraw from the contract?
Your ability to withdraw from a contract depends on when you signed the contract and the extent of the damage to the property.

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Cooling off
This period is usually 2 business days from either the date the contract of sale was signed by both you and the vendor or from the date you received the vendor's statement, whichever happened later.

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If you buy a property through a private treaty you will have 2 business days as the cooling off period. You can change your mind during this time and withdraw from the purchase without any legal repercussions.

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If you decide to withdraw from the purchase any holding deposit you paid is forfeited to the vendor. A vendor can also retain any other deposit (that’s not a holding deposit) as long as it does not exceed $100. Any larger deposit paid will be returned to you. There are no other consequences from withdrawing during the cooling off period.

If you buy a property at auction or on the day of the auction you are not entitled to a cooling off period.

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Damage to property
Even if you can’t end the contract within the cooling-off period, you may still be able to end the contract of sale if the property is destroyed or damaged to point where it becomes unfit for occupation.

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Alternatively, you may seek a reduction in the purchase price on account of the damage. If this applies, seek advice from a lawyer or a conveyancer.

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If the seller had insurance, you may be able to obtain benefits of the seller’s policy of insurance. However, be aware that current building standards may result in higher construction costs for a new dwelling. It’s important to ensure that the insurance policy provide sufficient cover.

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There are a lot of decisions to be made if you want to end a contract. Get urgent advice from a lawyer or a conveyancer.

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Continuing with the purchase
Generally, if the property is only slightly damaged, then you may be obliged to settle on the contract. Any damage would need to be repaired prior to settlement. If the damage is not repaired, you may only be entitled to compensation.

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Get legal advice from your lawyer or conveyancer.

 

You may be able to delay settlement until the repairs are done or seek compensation.

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If the seller had a policy of insurance covering the dwelling, there are some circumstances that would entitle the purchaser to the benefits of the seller’s policy of insurance.

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My property was burnt down or damaged and I have now got an offer for it. What should I do?
If you are approached to sell your property, regardless of whether your house has been damaged or destroyed, take your time to consider the offer.

 

Talk to other people in your local area about the amount of the offer and to experts such as estate agents, accredited property valuers, conveyancers and lawyers.

 

Have a good think about your overall financial position before accepting any offer.

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I want to sell or rebuild a jointly owned property that was affected by a disaster. The other owner does not want to sell. What can we do?
If you are one of two owners and you want to do anything with your jointly-owned land (for example, lease, sell, repair or renovate), you and the other owner both need to agree to it.

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Check first to see if you made any agreement with the other owner about how to divide property as this may address the issue.

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My destroyed property was used as security for the loan on another property I bought. What happens now?
A property which has been used as security for a loan acts as a protection for the lender if you miss repayments on the loan. If the property was damaged, you still need to make regular loan repayments. Usually you need to tell the lender as soon as possible about any damage to the property that was being used as security

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In most cases, the lender has standard expectations for the property being used as security, such as requiring that you have insurance on the property. If the property is damaged or destroyed, the lender may require that you pay them any insurance money you get.

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After this happens, you and the lender will have to work together to use that money for repairs, replacements and rebuilding. You can expect that the lender will take control of any negotiations with the insurer. Not all arrangements work like this though. Check the terms of your mortgage document.

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If the destroyed property was not insured, the lender could require you to give more security or repay the loan. They may also want the loan paid in full or in part

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My property was destroyed. I owe tradespeople money for work on the property. Do I have to pay?
Yes, your contract with the tradespeople (to do work on the house) is treated separately and you have to pay for the work that they completed under the contract. If the damaged property is insured, you may be able to claim on the insurance policy and recover your losses separately.

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My home, which I was building or renovating at the time of the disaster, was damaged. What should I do?
Usually, you still have to pay for work that tradespeople or your builder did under the contract. Talk to your builder. The builder’s general construction insurance may cover the damage. You will still have a contract between yourself and the builder.

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Contact your builder and ask for another copy of the contract if you no longer have yours. It is possible that your insurance covers any renovations that were taking place. See our Insurance page for more details.

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Part of my property was destroyed by the CFS while fighting a fire. Who pays for the repairs?
Because the Country Fire Service (CFS) is a public authority it does not have to pay for any damage caused during firefighting activities. This is not the case if the damage was done on purpose by the public authority or because of its negligence.

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Get legal advice if you think this is the case. 

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If you have fire insurance, this damage may be covered. Collect evidence as soon as you can to give to the insurer. Photographs and a written timeline of what happened may be useful.

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My water line was damaged during a disaster. Who pays for the repairs?
The ‘main to meter pipe’ (ie the pipe that connects the water main to your internal pipe and runs underneath the property boundary) belongs to the land owner, but is the responsibility of the water authority. If this pipe is damaged, the water authority generally will cover the cost of repairs.

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All plumbing from the meter to the house are internal pipes and are the responsibility of the land owner. Check with your insurer to see if you are covered for this damage.

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You should also check your contract with the water supply authority to see if it contains any guarantee of supply or if it tells you what they do to deal with repairs.

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My neighbour’s tree fell on my property during a disaster and destroyed the shed. What can I do?
If you are insured, you can make a claim with your insurer. If you are not insured, you can explore the option of making a claim in the Magistrates’ Court against your neighbour and/or the persons/entity responsible for the tree falling. The court may order that damages and your legal costs be paid to you if you are successful.

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The law may be complex in this area. Get legal advice if you wish to claim for damages.