Legal Insights
Changes to the First Home Guarantee Scheme: What does it mean for first homebuyers
From 1 October 2025, changes to the Home Guarantee scheme will come into effect for Australians looking to purchase their first home. The scheme will allow all first home owners eligible under the scheme to purchase a property with a 5% deposit with no income eligibility requirements and increased price caps on the value of property.
UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS IN REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS (INCLUDING LEASES)
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.
Government Unveils Hopeful Future with with the Release of Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) and National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF)
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.
Purchasers Beware – Duty is Now Payable on Late Settlement Interest
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.
BIG4 Beacon Resort
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.
New Residential Tenancy laws in Victoria and Buyer Beware for Purchasing property subject to Lease
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.