If you’re thinking of buying, selling or conveyancing property in Brisbane, then you’ve come to the right place.
This guide can be used by anyone buying or selling but the links are generally for helping buyers and sellers in the Brisbane City Council area.
You should always get legal advice or consult your agent regarding your exact requirements.
Area classification/zoning
Before buying a property you should check out its area classification (or zoning) which will tell you:
- what you are able to use the property for under Brisbane’s planning rules
- about its development potential
Many areas of Brisbane have a district local plan or neighbourhood plan that may alter the planning rules or development potential of the land.
Find out the area classification and if the site is within a plan area by entering the property address via a property enquiry search.
Building plans
If you are looking for building plans for your Brisbane residence, Brisbane City Council may have copies. Council holds copies of approved building plans for single detached residential homes that were built, altered or renovated after 1987.
To order plans:
- phone Council on 07 3403 8888
- visit a Customer Service Centre or Regional Business Centre
When ordering plans you will have to:
- pay the relevant fee
- present identification such as your driver's licence
It usually takes about 10 working days to get building plans.
Development applications / approvals (Planning and development certificates)
For a written copy of development applications or approvals for a site, you can request a Planning and Development Certificate.
There are three types of planning and development certificates. A limited certificate is generally for conveyancing matters, such as establishing which planning scheme the property is in. A standard development and planning certificate or full development and planning certificate is generally for commercial enterprises.
Building applications/approvals (Building searches)
Building searches provide information on:
- previous extension approval (if approval has been given to a building application)
- final approval for commercial premises (including multiple dwellings)
Building searches do not include information on pool fence approvals.
FloodWise Property Report
Brisbane experiences high annual rainfall and some areas are at risk for flooding. The FloodWise Property report shows the risk and type of flooding at a property and how high the water may reach.
Current rates balance enquiry
Check the current rates balance online prior to the settlement of your property transfer. You can use this information to identify any arrears in an account, and to calculate the daily amount of rates to apportion the amount to be paid by the seller and purchaser on settlement day.
Water use
Calculate the water use when you're selling or buying a property, or if you're paying for water usage and are moving out. You can ask for a special water meter reading or take your own meter reading to calculate your water costs online.
For more information
Further information on planning and building in Brisbane, including how to get started on common building projects, is available on the Brisbane City Council's Planning and Building website.
Content thanks to Brisbane City Council.
Those who are selling your house please be aware of solicitors who sent you letters offering reduction in legal cost. In my case I used one lately when I sold my house in the inner north and ended up having this firm overcharging me and created a lot of problems for us: 1) they failed to contact my bank within a given period leading to my deed release being held up; 2) they sent you important documents for urgent signatures that require witnesses but these documents could have been sent to you weeks ago; 3) upon completion of sale, they failed to give accurate instruction to my bank resulting in the settlement fund going into a brand new account with debit restriction; 4) they overcharged us for a service that had already been paid for months ago but when they were challenged they refunded you without an apology. So when you are selling, don't use the firm that offers you discount. They are normally not competent. Be more attentive to issues and communicate with your solicitors to avoid misunderstanding or unnecessary holdups. Happy Selling! Hope my experience would not be repeated!