TOP 10LAWYERS

Top 10 Property Lawyers in Melbourne

Ten Melbourne firms for buying, selling, leasing and property disputes, with what each one suits and the Victorian rules on section 32 statements, cooling off, off the plan contracts, stamp duty and owners corporations.

Google ratings checked 24 October 2026 Updated 25 October 2026

No firm pays for its place on this list. How we compile this list

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Grouped by what each firm publishes about its own work. Most firms on this list handle all common property law matters.

The Top 10 Property Lawyers in Melbourne

Ten property law firms in Melbourne, with their experience, accredited specialists, Google ratings and what each one suits.

Davis Lawyers

Queen Street, Melbourne CBDProperty, wills and estates, and commercial law firm

5.0

4 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for Buyers, sellers and landlords who want an accredited property specialist

  • Peter Davis has been an LIV Accredited Specialist in Property Law since 1995, the firm says.
  • The firm says it has more than 30 years of property and conveyancing experience.
  • It handles lease disputes through the Small Business Commissioner, VCAT and the courts.

Accredited property law law specialist (1)Peter Davis

First consultation
Free first consultation with no obligation, according to the firm.
Office
Level 15, 200 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Davis Lawyers is a family run CBD practice built around property work. Founding partner Peter Davis has been an Accredited Specialist in Property Law with the Law Institute of Victoria since 1995, according to the firm, and partner Stewart Davis also works in property. The firm handles sales and purchases, family and trust transfers, subdivisions, leasing and lease disputes, with a team of conveyancing and mortgage clerks behind the lawyers. It suits buyers, sellers, landlords and small developers who want a specialist on the file. The firm says the first consultation is free.

Also worth knowing

  • Its team includes dedicated conveyancing and mortgage law clerks.

Lawyers

  • Peter Davis, Founding Partner, property, banking and finance, commercial Accredited property law law specialist
  • Stewart Davis, Partner, property, banking and finance, commercial
  • Melanie Leser, Associate, banking and finance, commercial

Areas of property law handled

  • Residential conveyancing
  • Contracts of sale and auction contracts
  • Vendor statements
  • Family and trust transfers
  • Easements, covenants and caveats
  • Subdivisions
  • Section 173 agreements
  • Commercial and retail leases
  • Lease disputes
  • Joint development agreements

Office

Level 15, 200 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sources

Back to the list

Best Hooper

Queen Street, Melbourne CBDProperty, planning and land development law firm

4.8

109 Google reviews

Checked 24 October 2026

Best for Landowners and developers with planning, title or boundary issues

  • The firm traces its history to 1886, when Theodore Fink and Robert Best formed a partnership.
  • It calls itself Victoria's property, planning and land development advisory law firm.
  • Doyle's Guide has listed it as a first tier town planning and development firm from 2015 to 2026, the firm says.
First consultation
Fixed price service for domestic and commercial transactions, with an all inclusive itemised quote on request, according to the firm.
Office
Level 12, 10 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Best Hooper traces its history to 1886, when it started as Fink and Best, and today it works almost entirely on property, planning and land development. Ten partners lead a team of about 25 lawyers. Alongside conveyancing and leasing it takes on the harder title work: adverse possession claims, caveats, easements, restrictive covenants, fencing and owners corporation disputes, and compulsory acquisition. It suits landowners, developers and anyone with a title or boundary problem. The firm says it offers fixed price transactions and itemised quotes on request.

Founded in 1886

Also worth knowing

  • It has ten partners and offices at 10 Queen Street since January 2022.

Lawyers

Partners as listed on the firm's website. Ask which partner leads your type of matter.

  • John Cicero, Partner
  • Dominic Scally, Partner
  • Tania Cincotta, Partner
  • Romy Davidov, Partner
  • Eliza Minney, Partner
  • Robert McKay, Partner
  • Sebastian Greenway, Partner
  • Maliq Maideen, Partner
  • Jonathan Hourigan, Partner
  • Edward Mahony, Partner

Areas of property law handled

  • Conveyancing and property transactions
  • Leases and licences
  • Finance and securities
  • Owners corporations
  • Adverse possession claims
  • Caveats
  • Easements
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Boundary and fencing disputes
  • Compulsory acquisition and compensation
  • Town planning

Office

Level 12, 10 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sources

Back to the list

Rigby Cooke Lawyers

Elizabeth Street, Melbourne CBDFull service commercial firm

3.0

14 Google reviews

Checked 24 October 2026

Best for Investors, developers and businesses buying, selling or leasing commercial property

  • The firm says its origins go back to the 1840s.
  • Partner Steven Apostolou leads the property group and has over 25 years in property law.
  • Michael Gough and the property practice were recognised in the Doyle's Property Guides for Victoria 2026, the firm says.
First consultation
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 11, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Rigby Cooke is a CBD commercial firm with roots it traces to the 1840s. Its property group is led by partner Steven Apostolou, who has more than 25 years in property law, with three more partners, a senior consultant and special counsel. The work leans commercial: acquisitions and sales, off the plan contracts, development and subdivision, leasing, joint ventures and property finance. Partner Michael Gough and the property practice were recognised in Doyle's Victorian property guide for 2026, the firm says. It suits investors, developers and businesses. Contact the firm about engagement terms.

Also worth knowing

  • The group covers off the plan conveyancing through to joint ventures and debt finance.

Lawyers

  • Steven Apostolou, Partner, Property practice lead
  • Bill Karvela, Managing Partner
  • Michael Gough, Partner
  • Rhodie Anderson, Partner
  • Tom Callander, Senior Consultant
  • Angela Foudoulis, Special Counsel
  • Mark Gomez, Associate

Areas of property law handled

  • Commercial and industrial sales and purchases
  • Due diligence
  • Off the plan contracts and settlements
  • Auction, tender and private treaty sales
  • Property development and subdivision
  • Section 173 agreements
  • Lease negotiation and rent reviews
  • Lease transfers and surrenders
  • Joint ventures
  • Property finance and mortgages

Office

Level 11, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sources

Back to the list

Kelly and Chapman Lawyers

Centre Road, BentleighGeneral practice firm

4.7

139 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for South east and bayside buyers and sellers wanting a local, multilingual firm

  • The firm says it has practised since 1966.
  • Principal Misko Vujnovic is also a notary public.
  • Staff speak Greek, Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian, the firm says.
First consultation
First consultation to review the contract or title, followed by an upfront cost estimate. Fixed fee conveyancing and contract reviews, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 300 Centre Road, Bentleigh VIC 3204
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Kelly and Chapman is a Bentleigh general practice that has been in the south east since 1966. Principal Misko Vujnovic, also a notary public, runs the firm, and the property work is shared with lawyer Vicki Koutsantonis and licensed conveyancer Laiany Dos Santos Pinto. It handles residential and commercial conveyancing, off the plan purchases, leases, subdivisions, caveats and boundary and fencing disputes, including VCAT matters. The team speaks Greek, Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian. It suits bayside and south east locals. The firm offers fixed fee conveyancing and an upfront cost estimate after the first consultation.

Founded in 1966

Also worth knowing

  • It offers fixed fee conveyancing and contract reviews.

Lawyers

  • Misko Vujnovic, Principal and Notary Public
  • Vicki Koutsantonis, Lawyer
  • Laiany Dos Santos Pinto, Licensed Conveyancer

Areas of property law handled

  • Residential conveyancing
  • Commercial conveyancing
  • Contract of sale reviews
  • Off the plan purchases
  • Retail and commercial leases
  • Subdivisions
  • Title transfers and survivorship applications
  • Boundary and fencing disputes
  • Caveats
  • VCAT property disputes

Office

Level 1, 300 Centre Road, Bentleigh VIC 3204

Other details

Languages
Greek, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian

Sources

Back to the list

PCL Lawyers

Collins Street, Melbourne CBD, plus seven Melbourne suburbsFull service firm

4.7

307 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for Home owners building, renovating or dealing with defects

  • Partner Emma Restall leads building and construction matters from VCAT to the Supreme Court, according to the firm.
  • The firm has a Collins Street office and seven suburban Melbourne offices.
  • It reviews residential building contracts and handles defects and home warranty claims.
First consultation
Obligation free initial discussion, according to the firm. Appointments outside business hours on request.
Office
Level 14, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

PCL Lawyers is a multi office firm with a CBD base on Collins Street and seven suburban offices around Melbourne, from Brighton and Moorabbin to Preston and Sunshine. On this list it's the pick for owners whose property problem is a building one. Its building and construction team, led by partner Emma Restall, reviews residential building contracts, handles defects and home warranty insurance claims, and acts in owners corporation matters and domestic building disputes, from VCAT through to the Supreme Court. It suits home owners who are building, renovating or living with defects. The firm offers an obligation free first discussion and after hours appointments on request.

Also worth knowing

  • It offers an obligation free first discussion and after hours appointments on request.

Lawyers

  • Emma Restall, Partner, Building and Construction
  • Tayla Williamson, Building and Construction team

Areas of property law handled

  • Residential building contract review and preparation
  • Domestic building disputes
  • VCAT applications and defences
  • Building defects and home warranty claims
  • Owners corporation matters
  • Builder insolvency

Office

Level 14, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Other details

Other offices
Brighton, Chadstone, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin, Preston and Sunshine, plus Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Brisbane and Adelaide

Sources

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Madgwicks Lawyers

William Street, Melbourne CBDCommercial law firm

3.3

37 Google reviews

Checked 24 October 2026

Best for Developers and investors running residential, commercial or industrial projects

  • The firm formally opened in Melbourne on 1 July 1975.
  • Property team head Laurance Davis has over 40 years in property and property finance, the firm says.
  • The team was a Property Team of the Year finalist at the Australian Law Awards.
First consultation
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 6, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Madgwicks is a CBD commercial firm that opened in Melbourne in 1975. Its property and construction team is headed by principal Laurance Davis, who has more than 40 years in property, development and property finance and was a founding director of PLAN Australia. The team works for developers, builders, investors and lenders on residential, commercial and industrial projects, from finance and contracts through to disputes. The team was a Property Team of the Year finalist at the Australian Law Awards, the firm says. It suits developers and investors more than home buyers. Contact the firm about fees.

Founded in 1975

Also worth knowing

  • Madgwicks is a member of the Meritas international law firm alliance.

Lawyers

  • Laurance Davis, Principal Lawyer, Head of Property and Construction

Areas of property law handled

  • Property development
  • Planning and development
  • Building and construction contracts
  • Property transactions
  • Construction and project finance
  • Loan and security documents
  • Property disputes

Office

Level 6, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sources

Back to the list

Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers

Surrey Road, Blackburn, plus South MorangFull service firm

4.4

72 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for Families and small businesses in Melbourne's east and north

  • The practice traces its roots to Yuncken and Yuncken in 1929, which Mahons took over in 2000.
  • Founder Anthony Mahon has more than 40 years in practice, the firm says.
  • Solicitor Luan Ch'ng was admitted in Victoria in 2006.
First consultation
Contact the firm to ask about first consultation terms.
Office
Level 1, 177 Surrey Road, Blackburn VIC 3130
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Mahons is an eastern suburbs firm based in Blackburn, with a second office in South Morang. It took over the Yuncken and Yuncken practice, which dates to 1929, in 2000 and has announced a merger with Perry Weston Lawyers. Founder Anthony Mahon has more than 40 years in practice and still does property and subdivision work for developers. A dedicated property, conveyancing and leasing team includes solicitors Luan Ch'ng and Keth Mahanthage. It suits families and small business owners in the east and north. Contact the firm about fees.

Roots to 1929 through Yuncken and Yuncken; Mahons took over that practice in 2000

Also worth knowing

  • The firm has announced a merger with Perry Weston Lawyers.

Lawyers

  • Anthony Mahon, Managing Director and Founder
  • Luan Ch'ng, Solicitor, Property, Conveyancing and Leasing Team
  • Keth Mahanthage, Solicitor, Property, Conveyancing and Leasing Team

Areas of property law handled

  • Residential conveyancing
  • Commercial conveyancing
  • Property acquisitions
  • Due diligence
  • Commercial leasing
  • Residential leasing
  • Subdivisions
  • Development work

Office

Level 1, 177 Surrey Road, Blackburn VIC 3130

Other details

Other offices
South Morang (105/855 Plenty Road, (03) 9404 1333)

Sources

Back to the list

Parke Lawyers

Collins Street, Melbourne CBD, plus RingwoodGeneral practice firm

5.0

8 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for Families and executors who want a CBD or Ringwood office

  • Offices at Level 1, 480 Collins Street, Melbourne and 281 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood.
  • Founded in 1994, with roots it traces to 1893, according to the firm.
  • It lists conveyancing and property, and owners corporation matters, among its services.
First consultation
Consultations by appointment at either office, by phone or video, with home visits by arrangement. Urgent matters get a prompt first consultation, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 480 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Parke Lawyers is a general practice with offices on Collins Street in the CBD and on Maroondah Highway in Ringwood, led by managing director Jim Parke. The firm says it was founded in 1994 and traces its roots through earlier practices to 1893. Conveyancing and property work sits alongside its family, wills and estates, and business practice, and it also lists owners corporation matters. That mix suits families and executors who need a sale or transfer handled together with a separation or an estate. Meetings can be in person, by phone or by video, and home visits can be arranged.

Founded in 1994

Also worth knowing

  • Offers meetings in person, by phone, by video, or at home by arrangement.

Lawyers

Directors, associates and consultants listed on the firm's team page.

  • Jim Parke, Managing Director
  • Julian McIntyre, Associate
  • Mikayla Fenwick, Associate
  • Brian Reckas, Senior Consultant
  • Ken Hanlon, Senior Consultant

Areas of property law handled

  • Conveyancing and property
  • Owners corporation matters
  • Property settlements and financial agreements
  • Probate and estate administration
  • Wills and estate planning
  • Commercial and business law

Office

Level 1, 480 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Other details

Other offices
Ringwood (281 Maroondah Highway)

Sources

Back to the list

Sanicki Lawyers

Chapel Street, Prahran, plus BrisbaneBoutique commercial and entertainment law firm

4.9

67 Google reviews

Checked 18 October 2026

Best for Business owners leasing premises, especially in hospitality and retail

  • Darren Sanicki founded the firm in March 2009, first as Darren Sanicki Lawyers.
  • Its business page lists leases, liquor licences and planning permits alongside business sales.
  • Staff profiles list Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese speakers.
First consultation
Free consultation to discuss your concerns, according to the firm.
Office
240 Chapel Street, Prahran VIC 3181
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Sanicki Lawyers is a boutique commercial firm on Chapel Street in Prahran, founded by Darren Sanicki in March 2009, with a second office in Brisbane. Most of its work is for businesses, and its property work mostly comes through that door: commercial and retail leases, buying and selling a business, and the liquor licences and planning permits a venue needs. It also lists conveyancing. Clients include hospitality, retail, health and creative businesses. It suits business owners signing or renewing a lease more than first home buyers. Some of its staff speak Cantonese and Mandarin. The firm offers a free consultation.

Founded in 2009

Also worth knowing

  • It offers a free consultation, according to the firm.

Lawyers

The firm's About page also profiles Ariel Wang, Hannah Kelaart, Jonathan Xian, Talia Le Couteur Scott and Kelly Ho.

  • Darren Sanicki, Founder
  • Peter Haug, Lawyer, business law
  • Paul O'Gorman, Lawyer
  • Moira McKenzie, Lawyer

Areas of property law handled

  • Commercial and retail leases
  • Buying and selling a business
  • Liquor licences and planning permits
  • Conveyancing
  • Contract review and negotiation
  • Business dispute resolution

Office

240 Chapel Street, Prahran VIC 3181

Other details

Other offices
Brisbane
Languages
Cantonese and Mandarin (Ariel Wang); Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese (Jonathan Xian)

Sources

Back to the list

Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Not sure which firm suits you?

Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Melbourne property lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.

How we compiled this list

We include firms with a Melbourne office whose own websites show real property work, from conveyancing and off the plan purchases to leases, subdivisions, owners corporation and title disputes. For each firm we read its website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. We only name an accredited specialist where the firm's site or the Law Institute of Victoria register says the LIV accredited them, and we name the area. Some firms here lean towards developers, businesses or building disputes rather than home purchases, and we say so in the write-up. Free consultations and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.

Firms can pay for a featured listing on some of our pages, which affects where they appear. No firm on this page pays. Payment doesn't buy the write-up. We write those ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees are as published by Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Victorian Government, the State Revenue Office, VCAT, the Victorian Small Business Commission, the Victorian courts and the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner in October 2026. VSBC mediation fees are as at May 2026.

The contract of sale and the section 32 statement

In Victoria the seller has to give the buyer a vendor statement, known as a section 32 after the section of the Sale of Land Act 1962 that requires it. It must be signed by the seller and given to you before you sign the contract. It's usually attached to the contract.

According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, the statement covers:

  • title details, including any mortgages, covenants and easements
  • zoning and planning controls
  • outgoings such as council rates and taxes
  • a declaration if the property is in a bushfire prone area
  • for a unit or apartment in an owners corporation, an owners corporation certificate and the documents that go with it

If the statement contains wrong or missing information, you may be able to withdraw from the sale or take legal action against the seller. Don't rely on that as a safety net. Have the contract and the section 32 read by a lawyer or conveyancer before you sign, while you can still walk away or negotiate.

A few other rules are worth knowing:

  • No set contract form: there's no longer a prescribed form of contract for selling real estate, so terms vary from sale to sale. The contract must say whether the price includes or excludes GST
  • Due diligence checklist: the seller or agent must make Consumer Affairs Victoria's due diligence checklist available at open inspections and on their website. It's a useful list of things to check before you buy
  • Taxes the seller can't pass on: since 1 January 2024, a seller can't pass on a windfall gains tax assessed before the contract is signed, or land tax on most sales below a high value threshold

Cooling off, auctions and the 2026 sales changes

For most private sales of residential property, the buyer gets a cooling off period of three clear business days after the day they sign. To end the contract in that time, you give the seller written notice, and you forfeit $100 or 0.2% of the purchase price, whichever is more. A term in the contract can't remove the right.

There's no cooling off when:

  • you buy at a public auction, or within three clear business days before or after the auction
  • the property is used mainly for industrial or commercial purposes, or is more than 20 hectares and used mainly for farming
  • the buyer is a company or other corporate body, or a licensed estate agent
  • you previously signed a contract for the same property on substantially the same terms

Many Melbourne homes are sold at auction, so for many buyers there's no second chance. Get the contract and section 32 checked, and your finance sorted, before auction day.

Victoria is also changing how homes are marketed and sold. Consumer Affairs Victoria lists these dates:

FromWhat changes
1 October 2026A Property Price Statement replaces the Statement of Information. The agent must update it with the sale price 7 days after an unconditional sale and keep it public for at least 18 months
16 October 2026For auctions and fixed date sales, the agent must publish the seller's reserve price at least 7 days before the sale
1 June 2027The section 32 must be available within 14 days of a private sale being advertised, at least 14 days before an auction or fixed date sale, or before you sign if the property isn't advertised or sells within 14 days
1 July 2027The current early deposit release process is repealed, and agents can't take their commission straight out of a deposit released before settlement

Dates as published by Consumer Affairs Victoria (page last updated 22 October 2026). The 2027 changes aren't in force yet.

Buying off the plan and sunset clauses

Buying an apartment or townhouse before it's built, or a lot in a subdivision that isn't registered yet, means signing a contract for something you can't inspect. Victoria has a few protections for buyers:

  • Deposit cap: the deposit can't be more than 10% of the price. Within that limit, it's up to you and the seller
  • Plan registration: if the plan of subdivision isn't registered by the date in the contract, or within 18 months if the contract doesn't set a date, you can end the contract and get your deposit back
  • Sunset clauses: since reforms passed in 2019, a developer can only end an off the plan contract under a sunset clause with the buyer's written consent or an order of the Supreme Court. The rules were backdated to 23 August 2018, so they cover older contracts too

The sunset clause change was aimed at developers who held off finishing a project, cancelled the contracts and resold the lots at a higher price once values had gone up. If a developer asks you to agree to end your contract, get advice before you answer.

Stamp duty on off the plan purchases. Duty on an off the plan purchase can be worked out on a lower value, by deducting construction and refurbishment costs for work not yet done when you sign. The standard version of this concession is for first home buyers, eligible pensioners and owner occupiers, and depends on the value of the property. A temporary extended concession lets any buyer, investors included, claim it on an off the plan apartment, unit or townhouse in a strata subdivision with common property, with no value cap, for contracts from 21 October 2024. It was due to end on 20 October 2026, but the Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Act 2026 extended it to contracts signed on or before 20 April 2027. House and land packages don't qualify. Check with the State Revenue Office before you sign whether it applies to your contract.

Stamp duty and first home buyers

Land transfer duty, still usually called stamp duty, is charged on the dutiable value of the property and administered by the State Revenue Office Victoria. Rates change, so check the SRO's current figures rather than an old table. Your lawyer or conveyancer can work out the duty and whether a concession applies.

HelpWho it's for
First home buyer duty exemption or concessionFirst home buyers, with no duty below a set value and reduced duty above it up to a cap. The SRO publishes the current values and rules
Principal place of residence concessionBuyers of a home they'll live in, below a set value
Off the plan concessionSee the section above. Duty is worked out on a reduced value
First Home Owner Grant$10,000 for a new home valued at $750,000 or less, for contracts from 1 July 2013. The home must not have been sold or lived in before
  • Living there: first home buyer help comes with residence requirements. Current members of the Army, Air Force or Navy are exempt from them, but reservists and APS staff aren't
  • Shared equity: the Victorian Homebuyer Fund is closed to new applicants. The Australian Government's Help to Buy scheme has replaced it
  • Check before you sign: eligibility depends on the contract date, the value and your own circumstances. The SRO's first home buyer pages set out the current rules

Owners corporations, leases and neighbour disputes

Owners corporations. If you own a unit, apartment or townhouse, you're probably in an owners corporation under the Owners Corporations Act 2006. Every owners corporation must have an internal complaints process. A complaint is made in writing on the approved form. If the owners corporation acts on it, the person complained about gets a notice to fix the problem within 28 days, then a final notice with another 28 days.

If that doesn't settle it, a lot owner, tenant or manager can try the free Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, which only helps if everyone agrees to take part. It isn't compulsory before VCAT, but the owners corporation itself must finish its internal process before it applies to VCAT. VCAT's Owners Corporations List hears disputes about common property, unpaid fees, repairs and maintenance, and breaches of the rules. It can order someone to do something or pay money owed, impose penalties for breaching the rules, vary or void a contract term, and appoint or remove a manager or appoint an administrator. It can't declare owners corporation fees excessive. You need VCAT's permission to be represented by a lawyer.

Retail and commercial leases. For a retail lease, the landlord must give you the Victorian Small Business Commission's information brochure when negotiations start, and the disclosure statement and proposed lease at least 14 days before you enter into the lease. You're entitled to a lease of at least 5 years, including options, unless the VSBC certifies that you've waived it. Most retail lease disputes have to go to the VSBC before VCAT will hear them. You don't need to go to the VSBC first if your claim is only to recover unpaid rent, you're seeking an injunction, or you're enforcing a settlement reached at the VSBC. VSBC mediation costs $300 per party for a half day or $600 for a full day, as at May 2026.

Fences, trees and neighbours. The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, on 1300 372 888, offers free, voluntary and confidential mediation, including for fence and tree disputes. You won't normally need a lawyer, but it can't enforce an agreement.

Bigger disputes. Contract, caveat, title and boundary claims that end up in court go to the Magistrates' Court for money claims up to $100,000, or to the County Court or Supreme Court, which have no upper limit. In Melbourne all three sit on William Street, at 233, 250 and 210. A contract claim generally has to be started within 6 years of when the cause of action arose.

Property lawyer or licensed conveyancer, and free help

In Victoria, the buyer and the seller each usually engage either a lawyer with a current practising certificate or a licensed conveyancer. A conveyancer is someone other than a lawyer who is licensed to do conveyancing work and advise on transferring title. Both can handle a standard purchase or sale: checking the contract and section 32, ordering searches, working out duty and adjustments, and running settlement. A lawyer can also advise on the wider legal side, such as a dispute with the seller, a family or trust transfer, a lease or a building problem, and act for you in VCAT or a court. Some firms on this list use licensed conveyancers on their property team, working alongside the lawyers.

Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests checking that a conveyancer is licensed. You can do your own conveyancing, but you won't have a lawyer's or conveyancer's professional indemnity insurance if something goes wrong.

When you're choosing a firm:

  • Ask who does the work: many firms run conveyancing files through clerks or conveyancers with a lawyer supervising. That's normal, but know who to call
  • Ask how it charges: fixed fee conveyancing is common. If your legal costs are likely to be more than $750, a Victorian lawyer must tell you in writing how they'll charge and give an estimate, although this doesn't apply to commercial or government clients. You can negotiate the costs agreement and ask for an itemised bill
  • Match the firm to the job: a first home, an off the plan apartment, a subdivision and a fight over a caveat need different strengths
  • Accredited specialists: the Law Institute of Victoria accredits specialists in property law. Accreditation isn't required to do property work. On this list, Peter Davis at Davis Lawyers and Andre Ong at Sharrock Pitman Legal are LIV accredited property law specialists, according to their firms' websites. The LIV's online directory lists accredited specialists

Free and low cost help in Melbourne:

  • Consumer Affairs Victoria: 1300 55 81 81, 9am to 5pm weekdays, for information on buying, selling, owners corporations and agents. Try to resolve the problem yourself first
  • Victoria Legal Aid: Legal Help on 1300 792 387, weekdays 8am to 6pm
  • Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria: 1300 372 888, for free mediation of neighbour, fence and tree disputes
  • Victorian Small Business Commission: 1800 878 964, for retail and commercial lease disputes
  • Law Institute of Victoria: its Find Your Lawyer Referral Service refers you to firms that offer a free 30 minute consultation

Melbourne property law: common questions

What is a section 32 statement?

It's the vendor statement a Victorian seller must sign and give you before you sign the contract. It sets out title details such as mortgages, covenants and easements, zoning and planning controls, rates and other outgoings, and whether the property is in a bushfire prone area. For a unit in an owners corporation, it includes an owners corporation certificate. If it's wrong or incomplete, you may be able to withdraw from the sale or take legal action, so have it checked before you sign.

Can I pull out of a contract after I've signed it?

For most private residential sales, you have three clear business days after the day you sign to end the contract by written notice. You forfeit $100 or 0.2% of the price, whichever is more. There's no cooling off if you bought at auction or within three clear business days before or after it, or if the property is used mainly for commercial or industrial purposes, or is more than 20 hectares and used mainly for farming, or you're buying through a company.

Can a developer cancel my off the plan contract with a sunset clause?

Only with your written consent or an order of the Supreme Court. Victoria changed the law in 2019, and the rules were backdated to 23 August 2018, so they cover older contracts too. Separately, if the plan of subdivision isn't registered by the date in your contract, or within 18 months if no date is set, you can end the contract and get your deposit back.

Do first home buyers pay stamp duty in Victoria?

Many pay none or a reduced amount. The State Revenue Office runs a first home buyer duty exemption or concession, which depends on the value of the home, and there's a separate concession for off the plan purchases. A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant is available for a new home valued at $750,000 or less. Residence rules apply, so check your eligibility on the SRO website before you sign.

Do I need a property lawyer or a conveyancer?

For a standard purchase or sale, either a lawyer with a current practising certificate or a licensed conveyancer can do the work. A lawyer can also advise on legal problems that come up along the way, such as a dispute with the seller, a lease, a family or trust transfer, or a building issue, and represent you in VCAT or a court. Whoever you choose, ask who handles your file and how they charge.

How do I sort out a dispute with my owners corporation?

Start with the owners corporation's internal complaints process, which every owners corporation must have. If that doesn't work, you can try free mediation at the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria if everyone agrees, or apply to VCAT's Owners Corporations List. VCAT hears disputes about common property, unpaid fees, repairs and rule breaches, but it can't declare fees excessive. You need VCAT's permission to have a lawyer represent you.

Where can I get free help with a property problem in Melbourne?

Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 has information on buying, selling and owners corporations. Victoria Legal Aid's Legal Help line is 1300 792 387. The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria on 1300 372 888 mediates neighbour, fence and tree disputes for free, and the Victorian Small Business Commission on 1800 878 964 handles retail lease disputes.

General information only, not legal advice.

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Sources for the legal information on this page