Property lawyers handle the ownership and use of land beyond a straightforward sale — subdivisions, easements, development, co-ownership and the disputes that arise between neighbours, owners and developers.

Where conveyancing is about completing a transaction, property law is about the rights attached to the land itself, and it is where the more complicated questions end up.

The work they handle

Subdivisions, development approvals and planning matters
Easements, covenants and rights of way
Boundary and fencing disputes
Co-ownership disputes, including applications to force a sale
Off-the-plan purchases and sunset clauses
Adverse possession and title rectification

When to call a property lawyer

You are buying land with development potential
A neighbour is disputing a boundary, fence or access
You co-own a property with someone who wants out and you do not
An easement or covenant is restricting what you can do
Your off-the-plan purchase has hit a delay or a sunset clause

What it costs

Advice work is usually hourly; discrete tasks such as preparing an easement or a co-ownership agreement are often fixed fee. Where a matter becomes a dispute it is priced as litigation. Ask early which of the two you are in.

How to choose

Property law is state law

Titles systems, planning regimes and dispute processes are all state-based. Use someone who practises where the land is.

Bring the title and plan

Most property questions are answered by the title, the plan of subdivision and the planning overlay. Have them ready.

Neighbour disputes reward early advice

They escalate quickly and are expensive to litigate relative to what is usually at stake.

Common questions

My neighbour's fence is on my land — what can I do?

Start with the title and survey, since boundaries are frequently not where people assume. Most states have a dedicated fencing dispute process that is cheaper than court, and a property lawyer can point you to it.

Can I force the sale of a property I co-own?

Often yes. Courts have power to appoint trustees for sale where co-owners cannot agree, though it is a last resort and the costs usually come out of the proceeds.

What is an easement?

A right for someone else to use part of your land for a specific purpose — access, drainage, services. It attaches to the land and survives a change of owner, which is why searches matter before you buy.

What is a sunset clause in an off-the-plan contract?

A date by which the development must be completed, after which either party may be able to end the contract. They have been the subject of significant law reform, and the rules differ by state.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ between states and every situation turns on its own facts — speak to a qualified Australian lawyer before acting. If you cannot afford one, Legal Aid operates in every state and territory.

Property Lawyers by suburb

By state and territory

Property Lawyers in New South Wales38 Property Lawyers in Victoria40 Property Lawyers in Queensland26 Property Lawyers in Western Australia5 Property Lawyers in South Australia9 Property Lawyers in Tasmania1 Property Lawyers in Australian Capital Territory3 Property Lawyers in Northern Territory