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Off-the-Plan Conveyancing

We refer you to solicitors experienced in off-the-plan contracts, sunset clauses and the disclosure rules that apply when buying before a property is built.

Call 07 4351 5323
Floor plans and a Brisbane apartment development under construction

How the conveyancing works in Queensland

Buying off-the-plan means signing a contract for a property, usually a unit, before it is built, based on the plans and specifications rather than a finished home. It is common across inner-Brisbane suburbs where apartment developments dominate the market, and it carries risks that a standard established-home purchase does not. Brisbane Conveyancers is a referral service, not a law firm, and we connect off-the-plan buyers with Queensland Law Society-member solicitors who understand these contracts.

The contract for an off-the-plan purchase is longer and more complex than a standard REIQ contract. The solicitor we refer you to reviews the disclosure plan, the proposed body corporate budget and by-laws, the finishes schedule, and the sunset clause, which sets the date by which the development must be completed or either party may be able to terminate. They explain how variations to the plan are handled, what happens to your deposit and how it is held, and the time you have to arrange finance once the building is registered.

Disclosure is central to an off-the-plan purchase. The seller must provide the required disclosure, and Queensland's seller disclosure regime, which from 1 August 2025 requires a Form 2 Seller Disclosure Statement and prescribed certificates before you sign, applies alongside the off-the-plan disclosure obligations. The solicitor checks that what has been disclosed matches what you are agreeing to buy.

Because settlement can be a year or more away, the solicitor also helps you plan for transfer duty and any concession that may apply at the time of settlement, and for the first home schemes if you are an eligible first home buyer. They re-check the title and the registered plan once the development is complete, then manage settlement electronically through PEXA, the online platform used to lodge documents and transfer ownership.

This service suits anyone buying a new apartment or townhouse before completion, including investors and owner-occupiers, particularly in suburbs such as the Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley, West End and Toowong where off-the-plan stock is common. On cost, many solicitors in our network offer a fixed professional fee for a routine off-the-plan purchase, with government charges, search fees and other disbursements confirmed separately in writing. We are a referral network and never set or charge the fee.

If you are considering an off-the-plan purchase in Brisbane, it pays to have the contract reviewed before you sign. Share a few details and we will connect you with a Queensland Law Society-member solicitor, usually within one business day.

What this can include

  • Sunset clause review
  • Disclosure plan review
  • Body corporate budget review

General information only, not legal advice. See our Terms and Disclaimer.

Brisbane suburbs we cover for Off-the-Plan Conveyancing

The Off-the-Plan Conveyancing service is available across all 26 Brisbane suburbs in our coverage area. Pick your suburb for the local notes, or submit the form for a free review.

Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Brisbane CBD Brisbane's central business district is dominated by high-rise apartment towers and converted heritage buildin Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Fortitude Valley Fortitude Valley is a dense inner-city precinct mixing new apartment developments with older worker's cottages Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in West End West End blends character Queenslanders and post-war cottages with a wave of riverfront apartment projects Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Holland Park Holland Park is a leafy inner-south suburb of post-war homes and renovated cottages on elevated blocks Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Kedron Kedron is an established inner-north suburb of post-war houses and a growing number of townhouses Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Camp Hill Camp Hill is a sought-after inner-east suburb of renovated Queenslanders and contemporary new builds on hilly Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Coorparoo Coorparoo is an established inner-south suburb combining classic Queenslanders with newer apartment and townho Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Sunnybank Sunnybank is a busy southern suburb known for its large multicultural shopping precincts and a mix of post-war Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Nundah Nundah is an inner-north suburb with a revitalised village centre Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Chermside Chermside is a major northside commercial hub anchored by one of Australia's largest shopping centres Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Cannon Hill Cannon Hill is an inner-east suburb of post-war homes Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Mount Gravatt Mount Gravatt is an established southern suburb of post-war houses on elevated blocks Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Carindale Carindale is a large eastern suburb of brick-and-tile family homes and newer builds centred on a major regiona Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Carina Carina is an inner-east suburb of post-war homes and renovated cottages with a growing number of townhouses Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Wynnum Wynnum is a bayside suburb on Moreton Bay with a mix of original cottages Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Manly Manly is a bayside suburb built around its boat harbour Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Indooroopilly Indooroopilly is a leafy western suburb mixing established family homes with apartments around its major shopp Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Toowong Toowong is an inner-west suburb of character Queenslanders on hilly streets alongside a dense cluster of apart Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Ashgrove Ashgrove is a sought-after inner-west suburb famous for its character Ashgrovian Queenslanders on tree-lined s Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Bulimba Bulimba is a prestige inner-east riverside suburb of renovated Queenslanders and contemporary homes around its Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Sherwood Sherwood is a leafy western riverside suburb of character homes and a mix of low and medium-density housing Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Graceville Graceville is a quiet western riverside suburb known for its well-kept Queenslanders and tree-lined streets Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Redcliffe Redcliffe is a peninsula bayside suburb in the Moreton Bay region with beachfront homes Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Strathpine Strathpine is a Moreton Bay region commercial centre with affordable post-war homes Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Albany Creek Albany Creek is a family-oriented Moreton Bay region suburb of brick-and-tile homes and established estates ar Off-the-Plan Conveyancing in Aspley Aspley is an established northern suburb of post-war homes

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Off-the-Plan Conveyancing: common questions

Quick, factual answers on how this service works in Queensland.

What is a sunset clause?
A sunset clause sets the date by which an off-the-plan development must be completed. If it is not completed by then, either party may be able to terminate the contract. The solicitor we connect you with explains how the sunset clause in your contract works before you sign.
Is off-the-plan riskier than buying an established home?
It carries different risks, because you are buying based on plans rather than a finished property, and settlement can be a year or more away. Having a solicitor review the disclosure plan, body corporate budget and sunset clause before you sign helps you understand those risks.
When do I pay transfer duty on an off-the-plan purchase?
Transfer duty is generally assessed and paid around settlement, which for off-the-plan can be well after you sign. The solicitor helps you plan for the duty and any concession that may apply at the time, including the first home schemes if you are eligible.
Does seller disclosure apply to off-the-plan?
Yes. Queensland's seller disclosure regime, which from 1 August 2025 requires a Form 2 statement and prescribed certificates before you sign, applies alongside the off-the-plan disclosure obligations. The solicitor checks that disclosure has been provided.

Get matched with a solicitor

Need help with off-the-plan conveyancing?

Tell us about your off-the-plan conveyancing matter and we will connect you with a Queensland Law Society-member solicitor for a fixed-fee quote, usually within one business day.

Call 07 4351 5323