From 9 November 2023, consumers and small businesses have had increased protection from unfair contract terms contained in standard form contracts under the Australian Consumer Law and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).  We wrote generally about these protections in our update Constructing a fair contract can save you millions.

In a landmark move aimed at addressing the national housing crisis, the first tender for the federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) and National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF) is now open. The core objective of these programs is to finance new, high quality and well located social and affordable housing to address the current national housing crisis.

If settlement is delayed by the purchaser, through no fault of the Vendor, then interest can be payable by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms of the contract of sale of land (Late Settlement Interest). Late Settlement Interest is normally calculated at 12% per annum of the purchase price.

Harwood Andrews is pleased to have advised the owners of the BIG4 Beacon Resort on the off-market sale of the business to Ingenia Communities group (ASX: INA) for $37m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residential landlords have been riding the wave of rent reduction, rent freezing, mortgage freezing as well as a hiatus on eviction notices (with a few exceptions). On top of this, the Victorian Government has set up a system of new rental rules and requirements.