Property Law Reset: Navigating NSW’s New Rules, Risks and Realities - 5 program recorded series

Program 1: 2026 Conveyancing Update: The New Contract, New Rules and a New Risk Landscape

2026 marks a major reset for NSW conveyancing, with the NSW Government’s new Contract for the Sale of Land landing alongside sweeping legislative reform. This essential update session cuts through what’s changed, what really matters in practice, and where the new risk traps are emerging for property lawyers and conveyancers. You’ll get a practical, future-focused briefing on how to adapt your workflows, advice and documents for the new regime, including:

• What’s new (and what’s gone) in the 2026 Contract for the Sale of Land - and how it reshapes everyday transactions
• How the Conveyancing and Real Property Amendment Act is changing transaction procedures under flexible lodgement rules
• The expanded scope of s 88B instrument releases and how to deal with council and utility provider interests
• Updated service of notices requirements and the practical risks of getting them wrong
• The transformation of land title data access and what it means for searches, verification and due diligence
• How to update your conveyancing workflows and client advice to reflect the new contract and new statutory settings
• The redefined concept of “option”, capturing both options to purchase and options to compel purchase
• Why cooling-off rights have changed for put and call option purchasers — and how this affects structuring and advice
• Which vendor disclosure obligations now apply across different option arrangements under the revised framework

Program 2: Off-the-Plan Contracts in NSW: Reforming Sunset Clauses, Disclosure & Covenant Cleanup

Off‑the‑plan contracts remain a critical, but high-risk, vehicle in the NSW property market. A combination of indefinite sunset clauses, opaque timeframes, and outdated title restrictions has left buyers vulnerable and shaken confidence in new developments. This session unpacks the NSW Government’s proposed legislative reforms aimed at restoring balance and boosting market certainty through:

• Sunset clause reform: Making sunset clauses mandatory; expanding what constitutes a valid "sunset event" (e.g., development approval, land ownership)
• Caps and controls on extensions: Restricting the developer’s ability to unilaterally extend deadlines—and tying extensions to objectively justifiable reasons, with penalties for delays
• Visibility through milestones: Requiring developers to disclose construction progress and milestone statuses to buyers, improving transparency and enabling informed decision-making
• Caveats to protect purchasers: Proposals for a statutory mechanism to register a purchaser’s interest on title via a form of caveat once the contract is signed
• Removing outdated covenants: Streamlining the removal of obsolete restrictive covenants that hinder development—unlocking potential while reducing title burdens
• Accountability through penalties: Introducing financial consequences for developers who fail to meet contract deadlines, shifting the balance of power toward buyers

• Contextual insight on how these reforms may reshape contract drafting, settlement risk, and client advice going forward.

Program 3: Strata in Transition: Navigating New Duties, Rights and Risks

Significant reforms to NSW strata laws have fundamentally transformed how strata schemes operate. This session explores the key changes and what they mean in practice for property lawyers and their clients, including:

• Automatic approval of minor renovations and avoiding unintended approvals.
• Understanding the mandatory sustainability agenda items for AGMs and sustainability issues related to by-laws.
• Unfair contract terms and specific prohibited terms in strata management contracts.
• Changes to accessibility infrastructure requests.
• New fiduciary-style duties for strata committee members requiring honest and fair conduct.
• The extension of damages claims from two to six years and new prohibitions on delaying repairs when legal action is underway.
• Practical implications of increased record inspection fees and enhanced managing agent reporting requirements.
• Changes to embedded network utility agreements.

Program 4: Navigating the Duty Maze: Revenue NSW's Updated Guidance on Options and Transfer Duty

Revenue NSW's comprehensive update to their Practice Note on options to purchase land has introduced crucial clarifications which must be understood to avoid costly duty miscalculations. In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of the updated guidance and its practical implications for structuring and advising on option transactions, including:

• The duty on beneficial ownership cand its effect on options.
• Understanding the Commissioner's distinctions between put options, "true" call options, and conditional contracts to transfer.
• How options differ from pre-emptive rights to purchase land under the updated Revenue NSW approach.
• When the grant, assignment, nomination, or novation of options triggers transfer duty obligations.
• Practical examples and scenarios demonstrating Revenue NSW's approach to calculating duty on complex option structures.
• Why NSW's transfer duty treatment of options differs significantly from other Australian jurisdictions.
• Strategies for structuring option agreements to optimise duty outcomes while ensuring compliance with Revenue NSW requirements.

Program 5: Transparency Under the Microscope: Preparing your Property Practice for AML/CTF Transformation 

You might already know the fundamentals about the upcoming AML reforms, however the real challenge lies in putting them into practice. With sweeping changes taking effect from 1 July, this session goes beyond the basics to focus on the operational realities of compliance in a property law practice. Learn how to translate regulatory requirements into workable systems and strategies, including: including:

• Recognising warning signs and red flags that should trigger enhanced scrutiny in property transactions
• Establishing comprehensive customer verification and identity confirmation processes
• Meeting disclosure requirements and developing effective internal operational protocols
• Creating systematic documentation practices and preparing for regulatory examinations
• Conducting enterprise-wide risk evaluations and building comprehensive regulatory compliance frameworks
• Examining real-world scenarios and addressing professional responsibility dilemmas faced by practitioners