Purchasing a Rural Property

Conveyancing (buying and selling property) is a major part of our firm and our solicitors are very experienced in this area of the law. If you are looking to buy or sell property then contact our office today on (02) 4821 1588 and make an appointment with one of our solicitors.

Why Purchase a Rural Property

This is usually a lifestyle choice and that choice recognises that it is not a choice for everyone. That being the case, accept from the beginning that if you choose to buy a rural property that it will not be as easy to sell as an ordinary 3 or 4 bedroom home in a country town.  

There are simply less people who wish to purchase a rural property.

That said, the benefits of living in a rural area are many and wide ranging which vary from a small residential hobby block to the larger farming properties that might have potential sub divisibility or simply a bush lifestyle.  

Some purchases of rural properties are made with a view to subdividing in the future and if this is your aim then you need to be certain from the outset and get good legal advice and planning advice about whether the land is in fact capable of being subdivided and if so the number of lots etc.  

Vacant rural land

If the land is vacant rural land then there are a number of additional issues to consider when building and they relate to:

1. Legal access to the block;
2. Accessibility to your proposed house site. Is it practical?
3. Rural fire hazard rules which will impose additional restraints upon or conditions upon your development consent to build.
4. The cost of getting electricity to the site.
5. The cost of providing water on site.
6. The cost of providing an appropriate sewerage septic disposal system.

These are all matters that you need to take into account and as a cost factor into the ultimate building costs.

Existing dwellings on rural properties

You should consider getting Pest and Building Reports regarding the condition of the home. 

If there have been recent alterations or additions or the home has only been built recently then you should get the Final Occupation Certificate and Home Warranty Insurance Certificates.

There should be a permit to operate a sewerage septic disposal system and it should be operating properly.

Noxious Weeds or Vermin – Chemical Hazards

You should also look for these and enquire about whether or not the property has a history of any noxious weed notices, notices requiring the eradication of vermin or any history of hazardous or environmentally unsafe chemicals being used or stored upon the property.  

The Contract 

As usual, having your solicitor review the Contract and consider the above matters before you enter into a Contract are critical. In addition, you need to be sure that you have finance approved in writing upon terms and conditions satisfactory to you.