Property Law and Conveyancing

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Sydney’s Property Law & Conveyancing Specialists

We have one of the most experienced and knowledgeable property law teams in Australia. Our team includes several Law Society Accredited Specialists in property law and our lawyers are experts in all types of property law transactions and disputes.

Whether you are buying your first home, or selling a large mixed-use development project off the plan, our team of specialist property lawyers can help you with any property-related matter. Some of the work we do includes:

  • Conveyancing – buying or selling property including residential, commercial, and industrial property.

  • General property law advice – we are often asked to provide advice on issues relating to general property law, stamp duty, FIRB requirements, or advice on the implication of easements or other title affectations.

  • Property development work - including site acquisitions and off the plan sales

  • Negotiation and registration of easements and covenants – often due to development work carried out by you or a nearby property.

  • Preparation of strata scheme by-laws – many renovations in a strata unit will require the registration of a strata scheme by-law that authorises the work to take place. Our team can assist in preparing and registering this.

  • Retail and commercial leasing – Preparing or reviewing retail and commercial lease agreements.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a property lawyer and conveyancer?

A conveyancer is authorised under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003 (NSW) to conduct property transactions, however they are not legal practitioners and so there are limitations on what they can provide advice on. For example, licensed conveyancers are not recognised in all states, are restricted on the size of certain transactions, and are unable to act for you if a dispute arises on your transaction. A property lawyer can handle all aspects of your property transaction or dispute, and is often also trained on many areas of law which overlap with property and conveyancing transactions, such as contract law, tax, deceased estates, divorce, and insolvency.

Do I need a lawyer or a conveyancing when buying or selling property in NSW?

While both can often assist on these transactions, a specialist property lawyer can provide detailed advice on your transaction, and can continue to act for you if something goes wrong (for example the other party fails to perform their contractual obligations).

What are the costs involved in buying or selling property?

In addition to the sale price, costs associated with buying or selling property can include agent commissions, legal costs and disbursements, due diligence costs such as building and pest inspections, or strata report fees, land titles registration costs, stamp duty or other taxes, and mortgage establishment or discharge fees.

How long does the conveyancing process take in NSW?

A typical conveyance takes 6 weeks (42 days) from the time contracts are signed, however this is often negotiated between the parties to suit their individual circumstances.

What are the main steps in the conveyancing process?

The main steps in the conveyancing process include reviewing and negotiating the contract of sale, conducting due diligence enquiries (building and pest inspections, strata reports), exchanging contracts, arranging finance, calculating settlement adjustments, assessing duty, and arranging transfer of ownership.

What is property development?

Property development involves acquiring land assets and changing it into new or improved land assets. This could be done via subdivision or through redeveloping residential, commercial, or mixed-use buildings with a view to increasing value and realising a profit.

What are the main risks in property development?

Many things can go wrong in property development, including market fluctuations, construction delays, regulatory changes, and increases in the cost of debt, labour, or materials.

How can a lawyer assist with property development?

A property lawyer can help with site acquisition, contract negotiation, option agreements, risk management, and dispute resolution. They can also help with selling or leasing the property on completion of the project, which may include off the plan sales.

What is a survey report, and do I need one?

A survey report shows the boundaries of the property, the position of any improvements such as buildings and fences, and the location of any encroachments. It is often recommended to obtain a survey report to confirm the location of these items, which can be very important both in the context of property development, or in relation to the sale of a property.


Click below to learn more about the work we do:

Conveyancing (Buying & Selling Property)

Conveyancing (Buying & Selling Property)

Our expert Property lawyers complete over $1billion of real estate transactions each year.

Buying a Residential Property

Buying a Residential Property

Buying a home — whether it’s your first apartment, an investment property, or your family’s forever home — is one of ...

Selling a Residential Property

Selling a Residential Property

Selling your home is a major financial decision — and one that can quickly become stressful without the right guidanc...

Commercial Property

Commercial Property

At Thornton + King, our commercial property lawyers combine decades of experience with practical, real-world insight....

Buying Commercial Property

Buying Commercial Property

Buying a commercial property is often one of the biggest financial decisions a business owner or investor will make. ...

Selling Commercial Property

Selling Commercial Property

Selling a commercial property in NSW? Thornton + King’s accredited commercial property lawyers guide you through ever...

Commercial Leasing

Commercial Leasing

Whether you’re a landlord or tenant, a well-drafted commercial lease sets the foundation for a successful business re...

Retail Leasing

Retail Leasing

Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, retail leasing in New South Wales is governed by a detailed and often technica...

Company Title Property

Company Title Property

Unlike strata title, company title involves owning shares in a company that owns the land and building. Those shares ...

Specialist Property Development Lawyers

Specialist Property Development Lawyers

At Thornton + King, we act for developers, investors, landowners, and consultants on many aspects of property develop...

Strata By-Laws

Strata By-Laws

Living in strata or community scheme comes with many administrative and community obligations.

Contact Thornton & King Lawyers

Do you have a question about our services? Contact us today, and a member of our team will get back to you soon.

What our customers say

The best! Amanda and Andy were a wonderful source of professional advice from start to finish regarding the sale of my property. Super responsive and proactively managed every step of the process, which was so important as this was my first property sale. My estate agent also commented on how efficiently the contract for sale was provided, along with Amanda and Andy's responsiven...

KB

Google

4 days ago

Alan was amazing! He guided us through buying our first property with such care and expertise. He knew exactly what requests and changes to make in the contracts to best protect and benefit us. We couldn’t recommend him highly enough!

Keeley May

Google

1 week ago

I had an excellent experience with Alan and Pamela during my recent property purchase. They were always available to answer questions, very clear in their communication, and incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. Their professionalism and attention to detail made everything smooth and stress-free. I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable and friendly so...

Manny Paulo

Google

3 weeks ago

My recent down-sizing involves the selling of a property and the buying of a new one at the same time. The whole process was a smooth and pleasant one, thanks to the help of Thornton + King Law Services. In particular I wish to thank Amanda Chik, my Solicitor for her detailed explanations of the contracts, and Andy Habib, the Conveyancing Manager, for his prompt and professional ...

Chiu Keung Ng

Google

1 month ago

Vanessa and Andy are both highly experienced, professional and extremely helpful. They made the process of selling my property seamless. I have no hesitation recommending or using them again in the future.

Brooke Tesoriero

Google

2 months ago

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for all the hard work, time, and expertise that Amanda and her team put into our property settlement. Their attention to detail, clear communication, and persistence made what could have been a stressful process so much smoother and less daunting for us. We truly appreciate the extra effort you went to on our behalf — it didn’t go unnotic...

Lena Wang

Google

3 months ago

Vanessa and Andy made the process of buying my first home extremely easy and simple to understand. They were always available to answer any questions I had and to help me troubleshoot any problems I had. Can highly recommend them whether it is your first home or you’ve done it all before.

Niall Oates

Google

3 months ago

I cannot thank Sarah Newman, and Andy, at Thornton and King enough for their incredible support over the past six months. The settlement of my property was long, drawn-out, and at times quite tedious—but throughout the entire process, they were consistently professional, prompt, and reassuring. Sarah and Andy were always available to answer my questions, explain things clearly, a...

Shelley Robertson

Google

4 months ago
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Balmain

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Hornsby

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Willoughby