New South Wales act

Conveyancing Act 1919

In ForceNSW

Jurisdiction

New South Wales

Act Number

6 of 1919

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

8/10 complexity

This Act modernises and clarifies land dealings in NSW outside (and interacting with) the Real Property Act: it enables electronic lodgement and approved forms, tightens plan and registration rules, regulates easements and covenants, sets out co‑ownership trusts/partition and mortgage/receiver procedures, updates lease consequences, and creates a Registrar‑General‑run Central Register of restrictions. It affects owners, buyers, tenants, trustees, lenders, prescribed authorities, registry users, the Registrar‑General and courts, reducing title uncertainty but increasing compliance costs and administrative discretion.

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What it does

The Conveyancing Act 1919 (the Act) establishes foundational rules for property transactions in New South Wales, focusing on the transfer (conveyance), leasing, mortgaging, and subdivision of land. It applies primarily to "old system" land (non-Torrens title) but interacts extensively with the Real Property Act 1900 for Torrens land (s 6(1)–(3), s 52). Core functions include implying standard covenants in deeds and leases (ss 78–86, Schedule 4), regulating sales (Part 4, including cooling-off periods in ss 66S–66X and off-the-plan rules in ss 66ZL–66ZU), and governing easements, covenants, and co-ownership (Part 6, Divisions 4–6; ss 88–88K).

The Act modernises historical doctrines: it abolishes dower (s 21), equitable waste restrictions (s 9), and the rule in Shelley's Case (s 17). It validates certain electronic forms (ss 6A–6C, inserted 2002 and amended to 2025) and requires plans to refer to "current plans" for subdivisions (ss 23F–23G, 7A). For leases, it implies repair and quiet enjoyment covenants (s 84, Schedule 4) and restricts forfeiture (s 129). Mortgages gain powers of sale and appointment of receivers (s 109), while trusts for sale are simplified (ss 66A–66E).

It does not create new titles but ensures dealings are valid, with provisions for electronic lodgment (s 6A(2)–(5)) and fees (s 6B). Enforcement relies on court orders (e.g. s 66E for trusts, s 89 for modifying easements). The Act binds the Crown (s 66Y(6), s 6(2A) for easements on Crown land).

Who it affects

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Conveyancing Act 1919.

421

Part 1A

Preliminary

Part 1A Preliminary

pt 1A, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.22 [1].

Name of Act and commencement

1 Name of Act and commencement

This Act may be cited as the Conveyancing Act 1919 and shall commence and come into operation on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and twenty.

s 1: Am 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (1).

2

2 (Repealed)

Repeals

3 Repeals

(1) The Acts mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act are to the extent therein expressed hereby repealed.

(2) All rules of court made under the authority of any Act or section hereby repealed and being in force at the commencement of this Act, shall so far as applicable, be deemed to have been made under the authority of this Act.

Operation of Act

4 Operation of Act

Any alteration, by this Act, of the law, whether by the repeal of an enactment, or otherwise, shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by this Act, affect—

(a) any right accrued, or obligation incurred, before the commencement of this Act under the law so altered, or

(b) the validity or invalidity, or any operation, effect or consequence, of any instrument executed or made, or of anything done or suffered before the commencement of this Act, or

(c) any action, proceeding or thing then pending or uncompleted; every such action, proceeding and thing may be carried on and completed as if the enactment had not been repealed, or the law otherwise altered.

Restriction on validation of instruments

5 Restriction on validation of instruments

Where any instrument executed prior to the commencement of this Act is by any provision hereof rendered valid and effectual, and would, but for this Act, be or remain invalid or ineffectual, such instrument shall be deemed to be validated only where the person who is at the commencement of this Act in possession of the property affected by the instrument claims under such instrument and not adversely to it.

Application of Act to Real Property Act 1900 and other Acts

6 Application of Act to Real Property Act 1900 and other Acts

(1) Except as hereinafter provided, this Act, so far as inconsistent with the Real Property Act 1900, shall not apply to lands, whether freehold or leasehold, which are under the provisions of that Act.

(2) Except as hereinafter provided by this Act or the regulations made for the purposes of section 52A or 66ZA, this Act shall not be construed as affecting the provisions of the Crown Land Management Act 2016, the Mining Act 1992 or the Offshore Minerals Act 1999 or the provisions of any other Act dealing with Crown lands.

(2A) Division 4 (Easements and restrictive and positive covenants) of Part 6, so far as it is applicable, applies to and in respect of Crown land, including land under a continued incomplete tenure purchase, continued perpetual lease, continued term lease or continued special lease within the meaning of Schedule 1 to the Crown Land Management Act 2016.

(3) Wherever any provision of this Act is expressed to apply to land under the provisions of or dealings under the Real Property Act 1900, such provision shall not be deemed to apply exclusively to such land or dealings unless the contrary appears.

s 6: Am 1972 No 17, sec 2 (b) (am 1984 No 153, Sch 16); 1973 No 81, Fourth Sch; 1985 No 142, Sch 1 (1); 1989 No 9, Sch 1; 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (1); 1992 No 29, Sch 5; 1999 No 42, Sch 3.3 [1]; 2017 No 17, Sch 4.19 [1] [2].

Application of Act to electronic form plans and other documents

6A Application of Act to electronic form plans and other documents

(1) This section applies to—

(a) plans lodged for the purposes of this Act, and

(b) documents required, by this Act or another Act, to be lodged with a plan.

(2) A reference in this Act—

(a) to a plan or another document includes a reference to an electronic data file containing a plan or another document in an electronic form, and

(b) to the lodging of a plan or another document includes a reference to the electronic lodging of a plan or another document in an electronic form approved by the Registrar-General, and

(c) to a sheet of a plan or another document that is in electronic form is a reference to a sheet on which the whole or part of the plan or other document would be reproduced if the plan or other document were converted to hard copy form without re-pagination.

(3) If a plan is lodged electronically, all other documents that are required to be lodged with the plan must also be lodged electronically in an electronic form approved by the Registrar-General, except—

(a) (Repealed)

(b) any other documents excepted from this requirement by regulations under this or any other Act or by the Registrar-General.

(4) Any signature, seal, certificate, consent or other approval required to authenticate, or to authorise the registration or recording of, a plan proposed to be lodged in electronic form is to be endorsed on an approved form for signatures. When the plan is lodged, that form must also be lodged electronically in an electronic form approved by the Registrar-General.

(5) This Act applies to and in respect of plans and other documents lodged in electronic form in the same way as it applies to other plans and documents, subject to any modifications prescribed by this Act or the regulations.

(6) This section extends to plans and other documents relating to land under the Real Property Act 1900.

s 6A: Ins 2002 No 2, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2004 No 91, Sch 1.7 [1]; 2021 No 10, Sch 3.7[1]; 2023 No 35, Sch 1.8[1] [2]; 2025 No 50, Sch 1[1].

Fees

6B Fees

(1) The regulations may prescribe the following—

(a) functions under this Act, the regulations or another law for which a fee may be charged and the amount of the fee,

(b) the fees to be paid for the exercise of titling and registry functions.

(2) A prescribed fee must be paid before the function is exercised unless otherwise agreed between the person exercising the function and the person responsible for paying the fee.

(3) The fee prescribed for a titling and registry function is, if the function is undertaken by the authorised operator, the maximum fee that may be charged for the function.

(4) This section operates in addition to a provision of this Act or another law that allows for the prescribing of a fee.

(5) In this section—

authorised operator has the same meaning as in the Land and Property Information NSW (Authorised Transaction) Act 2016.

s 6B: Ins 2004 No 91, Sch 1.7 [2]. Subst 2025 No 50, Sch 1[2].

Electronic form documents and signatures

6C Electronic form documents and signatures

(1) A reference in this Act to a contract or deed includes a reference to an electronic data file containing a contract or deed in an electronic form.

(2) This Act applies to and in respect of contracts or deeds in an electronic form in the same way as it applies to other contracts or deeds, subject to any modifications prescribed by this Act or the regulations.

(3) To avoid doubt, Division 2 of Part 2 of the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 applies to a requirement or permission under this Act for a document to be verified, authenticated, attested or witnessed under the signature of a person other than the author of the document, subject to any regulations under this Act.

(4) This section extends to contracts or deeds relating to land under the Real Property Act 1900.

(5) The regulations may, for the purposes of this Act, prescribe—

(a) what does and does not constitute an electronic signature or attestation, and

(b) any further requirements in relation to electronic signatures and attestations.

(6) If a contract is provided in electronic form, all other documents that are required to be attached to the contract, or provided before completion of the contract, may, despite any other provision in this Act or the regulations, also be provided in electronic form if the document is clearly legible in that form.

s 6C: Ins 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [1].

Part 1

Interpretation

Part 1 Interpretation

Definitions

7 Definitions

(1) In the interpretation of this Act, and of any rules or regulations made thereunder, unless the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires—

Administrator means administrator within the meaning of the Probate and Administration Act 1898, and includes the NSW Trustee and Guardian acting as collector under an order to collect.

Approved form means a form approved by the Registrar-General for the purposes of the provision of this Act in which the expression is used.

Assurance includes a conveyance and a disposition made otherwise than by will; and assure has a corresponding meaning.

Bankruptcy means any act or proceeding in law having, before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1972, effects or results similar to those of bankruptcy, and includes the winding-up of a company under the Companies Act 1961, the Companies (New South Wales) Code or the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; and bankrupt has a meaning corresponding with that of bankruptcy.

Commonwealth means Commonwealth of Australia, and Commonwealth Act (with or without descriptive words) means an Act passed by the Parliament of the Commonwealth and includes any Act amending or substituted for the same.

Conveyance includes any assignment, appointment, lease, settlement, or other assurance by deed of any property; and convey has a meaning corresponding with that of conveyance.

Court means the Supreme Court.

Crown plan means a plan (such as a county or parish map, a town or village map or a portion plan) that has been prepared by or on behalf of the Crown and is held by the Registrar-General, and includes a registered plan that has been lodged for registration with the Registrar-General by or on behalf of the Crown.

Current plan has the meaning given by section 7A.

Dealing has the same meaning as it has in the Real Property Act 1900.

Deed in relation to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, includes a dealing having the effect of a deed under that Act.

Disposition includes a conveyance, and also an acknowledgment under section 83 of the Probate and Administration Act 1898, vesting instrument, declaration of trust, disclaimer, release and every other assurance of property by any instrument except a will, and also a release, devise, bequest, or an appointment of property contained in a will; and dispose has a corresponding meaning.

Executor means the executor to whom probate has been granted, and includes an executor by right of representation.

Existing lot means—

(a) a lot whose boundaries are shown in a current plan, or

(b) in relation to land that is not included in a current plan, any distinct lot or portion of land whose current boundaries are identified in the document or documents that evidence current legal interests in the land,

whether comprising the whole of a parcel, or 2 or more parts of a parcel separated by land reserved or acquired for a road, railway or other like purpose.

General Register of Deeds means the General Register of Deeds maintained under section 184C.

Income, when used with reference to land, includes rents and profits.

Incumbrance includes a mortgage in fee or for a less estate, and a trust for securing money, and a lien and a charge of a portion, annuity, or other capital or annual sum; and incumbrancee has a meaning corresponding with that of incumbrance, and includes every person entitled to the benefit of an incumbrance, or to require payment or satisfaction thereof.

Instrument includes deed, will, and Act of Parliament.

Land includes tenements and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, and every estate and interest therein whether vested or contingent, freehold or leasehold, and whether at law or in equity.

Land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900 or any equivalent expression, means estates registered under that Act.

Licensed conveyancer means the holder of a licence in force under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003.

lodgment rules has the same meaning as in the Real Property Act 1900.

Mental disability means the legal disability by reason of which the property of a person subject thereto may, pursuant to the law from time to time in force with respect to mental health, be committed to the management and care of another person.

Minor means a person under the age of eighteen years; and minority has a corresponding meaning.

Mortgage includes a charge on any property for securing money or money’s worth; and mortgage-money means money or money’s worth secured by a mortgage.

Mortgagee includes any person from time to time deriving title to the mortgage under the original mortgagee; and mortgagee in possession means a mortgagee who in right of the mortgage has entered into and is in possession of the mortgaged property.

Mortgagor includes any person from time to time deriving title to the equity of redemption under the original mortgagor, or entitled to redeem a mortgage, according to the person’s estate, interest, or right in the mortgaged property.

Mortgage, mortgagee, and mortgagor in relation to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900 have the same meaning as in that Act.

Order includes judgment.

Personal representative means the executor or administrator for the time being of a deceased person.

Possession, when used with reference to land, includes the receipt of income therefrom.

Power to postpone sale means power to postpone in the exercise of a discretion whether separately expressed or implied by the terms of the trust for sale.

Property includes real and personal property, and any estate or interest in any property real or personal, and any debt, and any thing in action, and any other right or interest.

Purchaser means a purchaser for valuable consideration, and includes a lessee, mortgagee, or other person who for valuable consideration acquires an interest in property, except that in Part 4, Divisions 5 and 6 purchaser means only a person who acquires an interest in or charge on property for money or money’s worth; and purchase has a meaning corresponding with that of purchaser.

Registered means registered in the appropriate register by the Registrar-General.

Registered plan means any of the following—

(a) a plan of subdivision, a plan of consolidation or a plan of identification (each within the meaning of section 195) that is registered in accordance with Division 3 of Part 23,

(b) a strata plan, strata plan of subdivision or strata plan of consolidation within the meaning of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015,

(c) (Repealed)

(d) a plan that is registered for the purpose of showing either or both of the following—

(i) land that is proposed to be acquired, by agreement or compulsory process, under a provision of an Act (including a Commonwealth Act) that authorises the acquisition of land by compulsory process, or

(ii) the residue of land of which part is proposed to be so acquired,

(e) a plan (other than a plan referred to in paragraph (a)–(d)) that is registered or recorded by the Registrar-General for the purpose of showing a parcel in a lawful division of land.

Regulations means regulations made under this Act.

Rent includes yearly or other rent, toll, duty, royalty, or other reservation by the acre, the ton, or otherwise; and fine includes premium or foregift, and any payment, consideration, or benefit in the nature of a fine, premium, or foregift.

Sale means only a sale properly so called.

Securities include stocks, funds, and shares.

titling and registry functions has the same meaning as in the Land and Property Information NSW (Authorised Transaction) Act 2016.

Trust corporation means the NSW Trustee and Guardian or a trustee company or The Official Receiver in Bankruptcy or the trustee in whom is vested the property of a bankrupt.

Trust for sale means a binding trust for sale, whether or not exercisable at the request or with the consent of any person, and with or without a power at discretion to postpone sale.

Trustee company means a licensed trustee company within the meaning of Chapter 5D of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth authorised by an Act of New South Wales to act as trustee.

Trustees for sale mean the persons holding property on trust for sale.

Valuable consideration includes marriage but does not include a nominal consideration in money.

War damage means damage caused by, or in repelling, enemy action, or by measures taken to avoid the spreading of the consequences of damage caused by, or in repelling, enemy action.

Will includes codicil.

(2)

(a) Any deed, will, agreement for a settlement, or other agreement, Act, or other instrument, or any number of instruments, whether made or passed before or after, or partly before and partly after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, under or by virtue of which instrument or instruments any land on or after such commencement stands for the time being—

(i) limited to or in trust for any persons by way of succession, or

(ii) vested in, or limited in trust for a minor in possession,

creates, or is for the purposes of this Act a settlement, and is in this Act referred to as a settlement, or as the settlement, as the case requires—

Provided that where land is the subject of a compound settlement references in this Act to the settlement shall be construed as meaning such compound settlement, unless the context otherwise requires.

(b) Where a minor is beneficially entitled to land, and by reason of an intestacy or otherwise there is no instrument under which the interest of the minor arises or is acquired, a settlement shall be deemed to have been made by the intestate or by the person whose interest the minor has acquired.

(c) An estate or interest not disposed of by a settlement and remaining in or reverting to the settlor, or any person deriving title under the settlor, is for the purposes of this Act an estate or interest comprised in the subject of the settlement and coming to the settlor or such person under or by virtue of the settlement.

s 7: Am 1930 No 44, sec 3; 1942 No 1, sec 2 (1) (a); 1970 No 52, Second Sch (am 1972 No 41, Second Sch); 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1972 No 17, sec 3; 1981 No 123, Sch 8; 1985 No 142, Sch 1 (2); 1992 No 5, Sch 3 (1); 1992 No 55, Sch 2; 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [1]; 1998 No 54, Sch 1.6 [1]; 2001 No 34, Sch 2.7 [1]; 2006 No 80, Sch 3.5 [1]; 2007 No 82, Sch 1.2 [1]; 2009 No 49, Sch 2.15 [1] [2]; 2009 No 109, Sch 2.1 [1]; 2015 No 51, Sch 9.5 [1] [2]; 2016 No 46, Sch 4.2 [1]–[3]; 2017 No 17, Sch 4.19 [3]; 2025 No 50, Sch 1[3].

Current plan

7A Current plan

(1) In this Act, current plan means a Crown plan or a registered plan, but does not include so much of a Crown plan or registered plan as is taken not to form part of a current plan because of subsection (2), (3) or (4).

(2) So much of a Crown plan or registered plan as merely identifies—

(a) land that is proposed to be acquired, by agreement or compulsory process, under a provision of an Act (including a Commonwealth Act) that authorises the acquisition of the land by compulsory process, or

(b) the residue of land of which part is proposed to be so acquired,

is taken not to form part of a current plan until such time as the land is so acquired.

(3) So much of a Crown plan or registered plan as merely identifies—

(a) land that is, or is proposed to be, leased (otherwise than for a period that, including the period of any option to renew, exceeds 5 years), or

(b) land the subject of a plan of subdivision for lease purposes (within the meaning of Division 3B or 3C of Part 2), or

(c) land the subject of a special purpose lease within the meaning of Division 5.7 of the Crown Land Management Act 2016,

is taken not to form part of a current plan.

(4) So much of a Crown plan or registered plan as relates to land the subject of a later current plan (that is, a current plan that was filed or lodged with the Registrar-General after the Crown plan or registered plan was so lodged) is taken not to form part of a current plan.

s 7A: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [2]. Am 1998 No 54, Sch 1.6 [2]; 2001 No 77, Sch 1 [1]; 2009 No 9, Sch 3.2 [1]; 2016 No 46, Sch 4.2 [4]; 2017 No 17, Sch 4.19 [4].

Part 2

General rules affecting property

Part 2 General rules affecting property

Division 1

Rules of law upon certain points

Division 1 Rules of law upon certain points

8

8 (Repealed)

Equitable waste

9 Equitable waste

An estate for life without impeachment of waste shall not confer, or be deemed to have conferred, upon the tenant for life any legal right to commit waste of the description known as equitable waste, unless an intention to confer such right expressly appears by the instrument creating such estate.

Merger

10 Merger

There shall not, after the commencement of this Act, be held or deemed to be any merger by operation of law only of any estate, the beneficial interest in which would not be deemed to be merged or extinguished in equity, and this provision shall apply to any merger by operation of law only arising before or after the commencement of this Act.

Mortgagor

11 Mortgagor

A mortgagor entitled for the time being to the possession of any land as to which no notice of the mortgagee’s intention to take possession, or to enter into the receipt of the rents and profits thereof, has been given by the mortgagee, may sue for such possession, or for the recovery of such rents or profits, or to prevent or recover damages in respect of any trespass or other wrong relative thereto, in the mortgagor’s own name only, unless the cause of action arises upon a lease or other contract made by the mortgagor jointly with any other person.

Assignments of debts and choses in action

12 Assignments of debts and choses in action

Any absolute assignment by writing under the hand of the assignor (not purporting to be by way of charge only) of any debt or other legal chose in action, of which express notice in writing has been given to the debtor, trustee, or other person from whom the assignor would have been entitled to receive or claim such debt or chose in action, shall be, and be deemed to have been effectual in law (subject to all equities which would have been entitled to priority over the right of the assignee if this Act had not passed) to pass and transfer the legal right to such debt or chose in action from the date of such notice, and all legal and other remedies for the same, and the power to give a good discharge for the same without the concurrence of the assignor: Provided always that if the debtor, trustee, or other person liable in respect of such debt or chose in action has had notice that such assignment is disputed by the assignor or anyone claiming under the assignor, or of any other opposing or conflicting claims to such debt or chose in action, the debtor, trustee or other person liable shall be entitled, if he or she thinks fit, to call upon the several persons making claim thereto to interplead concerning the same, or he or she may, if he or she thinks fit, pay the same into court under and in conformity with the provisions of the Acts for the relief of trustees.

Stipulations not of the essence of contracts

13 Stipulations not of the essence of contracts

Stipulations in contracts, as to time or otherwise, which would not before the commencement of this Act have been deemed to be or to have become of the essence of such contracts in a court of equity, shall receive in all courts the same construction and effect as they would have heretofore received in such court.

Division 2

Land

Division 2 Land

The immediate freehold of land to lie in grant as well as in livery

14 The immediate freehold of land to lie in grant as well as in livery

All land shall as regards the assurance of the immediate freehold thereof be deemed to lie in grant as well as in livery.

s 14: Am 1930 No 44, sec 4 (b).

Creation of certain estate in chattels real

15 Creation of certain estate in chattels real

Any estate or interest that can be created by will in any chattel real may also be created by deed.

When contingent remainders capable of taking effect

16 When contingent remainders capable of taking effect

(1) A contingent remainder existing at any time after the commencement of this Act shall be capable of taking effect notwithstanding the want of a particular estate of freehold to support it in the same manner as it would take effect if it were a contingent remainder of an equitable estate supported by an outstanding legal estate in fee simple.

(2) A contingent remainder or a contingent interest lying between two estates vested in the same person shall prevent the merger of those two estates.

Rule in Shelley’s case excluded in certain cases

17 Rule in Shelley’s case excluded in certain cases

Where in an instrument coming into operation after the commencement of this Act a remainder is limited mediately or immediately to the heirs or heirs of the body of a person to whom an estate for any life in the same premises is expressly given, the estate of such person shall be confined to an estate for the life mentioned with a remainder to the person’s heirs or heirs of the person’s body as purchasers.

Release of part of land from rent charge not to extinguish whole charge

18 Release of part of land from rent charge not to extinguish whole charge

The release from a rent charge of part of the land charged therewith shall not extinguish the whole rent charge, but shall operate only to bar the right to recover any part of the rent charge out of the land released without prejudice nevertheless to the rights of all persons interested in the land remaining unreleased and not concurring in or confirming the release.

Limitations of estates tail to pass the fee simple

19 Limitations of estates tail to pass the fee simple

(1) In any instrument coming into operation after the commencement of this Act a limitation which, if this section had not passed, would have created an estate tail (legal or equitable) in any land in favour of any person shall be deemed to create an estate in fee simple (legal or equitable as the case may be) in such land in favour of such person to the exclusion of all estates or interests limited to take effect after the determination or in defeasance of any such estate tail.

(2)

(a) Where at the commencement of this Act any person is entitled to an estate tail (legal or equitable) and whether in possession, reversion, or remainder, in any land, such person, save as is hereinafter mentioned, shall be deemed to be entitled to an estate in fee simple (legal or equitable, as the case may be) in such land, to the exclusion of all estates or interests limited to take effect after the determination or in defeasance of any such estate tail.

(b) Where any such person is an infant and such land for any estate or interest would pass to any other person in the event of the death of the infant under the age of twenty-one years and without issue, then in such case the infant shall be deemed to take an estate in fee simple with an executory limitation over of such estate or interest on the happening of such event in favour of such other person.

(c) This subsection does not apply in respect of a person under mental disability.

(d) In this subsection the expression estate tail includes that estate in fee into which an estate tail is converted where the issue in tail are barred, but persons claiming estates by way of remainder or otherwise are not barred; also an estate in fee voidable or determinable by the entry of the issue in tail; but does not include the estate of a tenant in tail after possibility of issue extinct.

(3) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, and the Registrar-General is hereby authorised on application in the form approved under that Act to make all such recordings in the Register kept under that Act as may be necessary to give effect thereto.

s 19: Am 1976 No 84, Sch 5 (1) (2) (3).

19A

Estates tail—further provisions

19A Estates tail—further provisions

(1) Where at or after the first day of January one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one any person is entitled, or would, but for section 19, be entitled, to an estate tail (legal or equitable) and whether in possession, reversion, or remainder, in any land, such person shall be deemed to be entitled to an estate in fee simple (legal or equitable, as the case may be) in such land, to the exclusion of all estates or interests limited to take effect after the determination or in defeasance of any such estate tail and to the exclusion of all estates or interests in reversion on any such estate tail.

(2) In this section the expression estate tail includes that estate in fee into which an estate tail is converted where the issue in tail are barred, but persons claiming estates by way of remainder or otherwise are not barred also an estate in fee voidable or determinable by the entry of the issue in tail; but does not include the estate of a tenant in tail after possibility of issue extinct.

(3) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, and the Registrar-General is hereby authorised on application in the form approved under that Act to make all such recordings in the Register kept under that Act as may be necessary to give effect thereto.

s 19A: Ins 1969 No 31, sec 4 (4). Am 1972 No 17, sec 4 (a); 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (3).

20

20 (Repealed)

Dower abolished

21 Dower abolished

No widow shall become entitled, nor on or after the fifteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety (being the day of the passing of the Probate Act of 1890), shall any widow be deemed to have become entitled to dower out of any land or out of any estate or interest in the same.

No assurance to have tortious operation

22 No assurance to have tortious operation

No assurance of any land hereafter made shall be deemed to have a tortious operation.

Dealings with land of undischarged bankrupt

23 Dealings with land of undischarged bankrupt

(1) All transactions by a bankrupt with any bona fide purchaser in respect of any land acquired by the bankrupt after a sequestration order has been made, and whether with or without notice of the bankruptcy, shall, if completed before any intervention by the official assignee of the estate of the bankrupt, be valid against the official assignee, and any estate or interest in such land which by virtue of the Bankruptcy Act 1898, or any Act relating to insolvency, is vested in the official assignee, shall determine and pass in such manner and to such extent as may be required for giving effect to any such transaction.

(2) This section shall apply to transactions with respect to land completed before the commencement of this Act in any case where there has not been any intervention by the official assignee before that date.

(2A)

(a) After the expiration, whether before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, of twenty years after—

(i) the date of the sequestration of the estate of a bankrupt under any Act relating to bankruptcy, or

(ii) the execution of an assignment for the benefit of the creditors of the assignor,

no action, suit, or other proceeding instituted by the official assignee or the trustee of the assignment for the recovery of land which by any such Act or by the assignment was vested in the official assignee or the trustee of the assignment shall succeed against a purchaser from the bankrupt or assignor, or under a sale in execution, or against a successor in title of such purchaser.

(b) This subsection shall not apply where the official assignee or trustee of the assignment was in actual possession of the land at the time of the purchase.

(c) This subsection shall not apply where the land is under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

(3) The registration by the official assignee in the General Register of Deeds of a claim, or in the case of lands under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900 the lodging of a caveat under that Act, shall be deemed to be a sufficient intervention.

(4) An order affecting the title to any land (not being land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900) made under the Bankruptcy Act 1898, is void as against a person who, after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1972 and without notice of the order, purchases land from a person whose title to the land is affected by the order, unless the order is registered in the General Register of Deeds.

s 23: Am 1930 No 44, sec 4 (d); 1972 No 17, sec 4 (b); 1992 No 5, Sch 3 (2); 2025 No 50, Sch 1[4].

23A

Abolition of the double possibility rule

23A Abolition of the double possibility rule

(1) The rule of law prohibiting the limitation after a life interest to an unborn person of an interest in land to the unborn child or other issue of an unborn person is hereby abolished, but without prejudice to any other rule relating to perpetuities.

(2) This section only applies to limitations or trusts created by an instrument coming into operation after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930.

s 23A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 4 (e).

Division 3

Assurances of land

Division 3 Assurances of land

pt 2, div 3: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 5.

23B

Assurances of land to be by deed

23B Assurances of land to be by deed

(1) No assurance of land shall be valid to pass an interest at law unless made by deed.

(2) This section does not apply to—

(a) an acknowledgment under section 83 of the Probate and Administration Act 1898,

(b) a disclaimer made in accordance with any law relating to bankruptcy in force before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1972, or not required to be evidenced in writing,

(c) a surrender by operation of law, and a surrender which may, by law, be effected without writing,

(d) a lease or tenancy or other assurance not required by law to be made in writing,

(e) a vesting order,

(f) any other assurance taking effect under any Act or Commonwealth Act.

(3) This section does not apply to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 23B: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 5. Am 1972 No 17, sec 4 (c); 2006 No 80, Sch 3.5 [2].

23C

Instruments required to be in writing

23C Instruments required to be in writing

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act with respect to the creation of interests in land by parol—

(a) no interest in land can be created or disposed of except by writing signed by the person creating or conveying the same, or by the person’s agent thereunto lawfully authorised in writing, or by will, or by operation of law,

(b) a declaration of trust respecting any land or any interest therein must be manifested and proved by some writing signed by some person who is able to declare such trust or by the person’s will,

(c) a disposition of an equitable interest or trust subsisting at the time of the disposition, must be in writing signed by the person disposing of the same or by the person’s will, or by the person’s agent thereunto lawfully authorised in writing.

(2) This section does not affect the creation or operation of resulting, implied, or constructive trusts.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a requirement for writing may be satisfied in electronic form and a requirement for writing to be signed may be satisfied by electronic signature.

s 23C: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 5. Am 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [2].

23D

Creation of interests in land by parol

23D Creation of interests in land by parol

(1) All interests in land created by parol and not put in writing and signed by the person so creating the same, or by the person’s agent thereunto lawfully authorised in writing, shall have, notwithstanding any consideration having been given for the same, the force and effect of interests at will only.

(2) Nothing in this section or in sections 23B or 23C shall affect the creation by parol of a lease at the best rent which can reasonably be obtained without taking a fine taking effect in possession for a term not exceeding three years, with or without a right for the lessee to extend the term at the best rent which can reasonably be obtained without taking a fine for any period which with the term would not exceed three years.

s 23D: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 5.

23E

Savings in regard to secs 23B, 23C, 23D

23E Savings in regard to secs 23B, 23C, 23D

Nothing in section 23B, 23C, or 23D shall—

(a) invalidate any disposition by will, or

(b) affect any interest validly created before the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, or

(c) affect the right to acquire an interest in land by virtue of taking possession, or

(d) affect the operation of the law relating to part performance.

s 23E: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 5.

Division 3A

Transactions with respect to existing lots

Division 3A Transactions with respect to existing lots

pt 2, div 3A: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3].

23F

Certain transactions to refer to lots shown on current plan

23F Certain transactions to refer to lots shown on current plan

(1) This section applies to the following transactions—

(a) the conveyance or transfer of part of an existing lot,

(b) the lease of part of an existing lot,

(c) the mortgage of part of an existing lot,

(d) the partition of an existing lot.

(2) The Registrar-General may refuse to register a transaction to which this section applies unless—

(a) the land to which the transaction relates is shown on a current plan, and

(b) the boundaries of each part into which the land is divided as a result of the transaction follow the boundaries of an existing lot.

(3) This section does not apply to an agreement with respect to land the subject of—

(a) a proposed plan of subdivision, a proposed plan of consolidation or a proposed plan of identification within the meaning of section 195, or

(b) a proposed strata plan, proposed strata plan of consolidation or proposed strata plan of subdivision within the meaning of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015,

but the agreement is taken to be conditional on the registration of the proposed plan.

s 23F: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3]. Am 2015 No 51, Sch 9.5 [3].

23G

Exceptions to sec 23F

23G Exceptions to sec 23F

Section 23F does not apply to the following transactions—

(a) a transaction that relates to the whole of the land comprised in a folio of the Register kept under the Real Property Act 1900,

(b) an application by the Crown to bring Crown land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900,

(b1) a transaction, initiated by the Crown, that redefines a boundary of Crown land that was brought under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900 on the application of the Registrar-General under section 13D of that Act,

(c) a transaction that relates to the whole of the residue of land comprised in a folio of the Register kept under the Real Property Act 1900, where part only of the land is shown in a current plan,

(d) a transaction that comprises—

(i) the lease of part of an existing lot for a period that, including the period of any option to renew, does not exceed 5 years, or

(ii) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created,

(e) a transaction that comprises—

(i) the lease of the whole or any part of a building, or

(ii) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created,

(f) a transaction that relates to an existing lot that is owned by 2 or more persons in severalty, where—

(i) one of the owners disposes of his or her part of the lot to another owner, or

(ii) all of the owners of the lot dispose of the lot to some other person,

(g) a transaction that relates to part of an existing lot, where—

(i) that part (and no other part of the lot) is held by a person in his or her capacity as a trustee, administrator or executor of, or as a beneficiary of the estate of, an owner referred to in paragraph (f), and

(ii) the transaction relates to the whole of that part,

(h) a transaction that relates to part of an existing lot, where—

(i) the transaction is necessary to give effect to an order, direction or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, and

(ii) the person by whom the transaction is given effect to does not have power to give effect to such a transaction with respect to any other part of the lot,

(i) a transaction that relates to part of an existing lot, where—

(i) the transaction gives effect to a sale of land under a writ of execution, under Division 5 of Part 2 of Chapter 17 of the Local Government Act 1993, under the NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 or under any power conferred by a Commonwealth Act, and

(ii) the person giving effect to the transaction does not have power to give effect to such a transaction with respect to any other part of the lot,

(j) a transaction that relates to part of an existing lot (not being land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900), where—

(i) a person in adverse possession of that part disposes of that part to some other person, and

(ii) the firstmentioned person does not have power to dispose of any other part of the existing lot,

(k) a transaction that relates to part of an existing lot, where the transaction conveys or transfers land to an Aboriginal Land Council in accordance with the requirements of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, the Native Title (New South Wales) Act 1994 or any other Act or law,

(l) a transaction that relates to the whole of the residue of an existing lot, where part of the lot—

(i) has been the subject of a transaction referred to in paragraph (h), (i), (j) or (k), or

(ii) has been acquired, by agreement or compulsory process, under a provision of an Act (including a Commonwealth Act) that authorises the acquisition of land by compulsory process, or

(iii) has been dedicated as a public road,

(m) a transaction that comprises—

(i) the lease or licence of part of an existing lot under an ARTC arrangement under Part 8A of the Transport Administration Act 1988, or

(ii) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created,

(n) a transaction that comprises—

(i) the granting of a special purpose lease within the meaning of Division 5.7 of the Crown Land Management Act 2016, or

(ii) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created,

(o) a transaction comprising the lease of part of association property within the meaning of the Community Land Development Act 2021.

s 23G: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3]. Am 2004 No 31, Sch 2.1 [1]; 2009 No 9, Sch 3.2 [2]; 2009 No 17, Sch 2 [1]; 2009 No 49, Sch 2.15 [3]; 2017 No 17, Sch 4.19 [5]; 2021 No 6, Sch 5.2[1].

Division 3B

Subdivisions to allow leases for caravan parks or mobile home estate purposes

Division 3B Subdivisions to allow leases for caravan parks or mobile home estate purposes

pt 2, div 3B, hdg: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3]. Subst 2001 No 77, Sch 1 [2].

23H

Definitions

23H Definitions

In this Division, plan of subdivision for lease purposes means a plan of subdivision (within the meaning of section 195) of land within a caravan park or a manufactured home estate (within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993) that is marked, in accordance with the regulations, so as to indicate that development consent to the subdivision has been granted under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 subject to the condition that the subdivision is a subdivision for lease purposes.

s 23H: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3].

23I

Transactions

23I Transactions

(1) The Registrar-General may refuse to register a transaction with respect to a lot in a plan of subdivision for lease purposes unless it comprises—

(a) the lease of the whole of the lot for a period that, including the period of any option to renew, does not exceed 20 years, or

(b) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created.

(2) This section does not apply to an agreement with respect to land the subject of a proposed plan of subdivision for lease purposes, but the agreement is taken to be conditional on the registration of the proposed plan.

s 23I: Ins 1997 No 152, Sch 2 [3].

Division 3C

Subdivisions to allow leases for forestry purposes

Division 3C Subdivisions to allow leases for forestry purposes

pt 2, div 3C (ss 23J, 23K): Ins 2001 No 77, Sch 1 [3].

23J

Definition

23J Definition

In this Division, plan of subdivision for lease purposes means a plan of subdivision (within the meaning of section 195) that is marked, in accordance with the regulations, to indicate that development consent to the subdivision has been granted under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 subject to the condition that the subdivision is a subdivision for forestry lease purposes.

pt 2, div 3C (ss 23J, 23K): Ins 2001 No 77, Sch 1 [3].

23K

Transactions

23K Transactions

(1) The Registrar-General may refuse to register a transaction with respect to a lot in a plan of subdivision for lease purposes unless it comprises—

(a) the lease of the whole of the lot for a period that, including the period of any option to renew, does not exceed 40 years, or

(b) the transfer, conveyance, sublease, variation or mortgage of a leasehold interest so created.

(2) This section does not apply to an agreement with respect to land the subject of a proposed plan of subdivision for lease purposes, but the agreement is taken to be conditional on the registration of the proposed plan.

pt 2, div 3C (ss 23J, 23K): Ins 2001 No 77, Sch 1 [3].

Division 4

Property generally

Division 4 Property generally

pt 2, div 4 (previously Div 3), hdg: Subst 1930 No 44, sec 6 (a).

Person may assure property to himself or herself, or to himself or herself and others

24 Person may assure property to himself or herself, or to himself or herself and others

A person may assure property to himself or herself, or to himself or herself and others.

s 24: Subst 1930 No 44, sec 6 (b).

Power for corporations to hold property as joint tenants

25 Power for corporations to hold property as joint tenants

(1) A body corporate shall be capable of acquiring and holding any property in joint tenancy in the same manner as if it were an individual, and where a body corporate and an individual or two or more bodies corporate become entitled to any property under circumstances or by virtue of any instrument which would, if the body corporate had been an individual, have created a joint tenancy they shall be entitled to the property as joint tenants—

Provided that the acquisition and holding of property by a body corporate in joint tenancy shall be subject to the like conditions and restrictions as attach to the acquisition and holding of property by a body corporate in severalty.

(2) Where a body corporate is a joint tenant of any property, then on its dissolution the property shall devolve on the other joint tenant.

Construction of conveyance etc of any property beneficially to two or more persons together

26 Construction of conveyance etc of any property beneficially to two or more persons together

(1) In the construction of any instrument coming into operation after the commencement of this Act a disposition of the beneficial interest in any property whether with or without the legal estate to or for two or more persons together beneficially shall be deemed to be made to or for them as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants.

(2) This section does not apply to persons who by the terms or by the tenor of the instrument are executors, administrators, trustees, or mortgagees, nor in any case where the instrument expressly provides that persons are to take as joint tenants or tenant by entireties.

s 26: Am 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (4).

Tenants in common of equitable estate acquiring the legal estate

27 Tenants in common of equitable estate acquiring the legal estate

Where two or more persons entitled beneficially as tenants in common to an equitable estate in any property are or become entitled in their own right whether as joint tenants or tenants in common to the legal estate in such property equal to and co-extensive with such equitable estate both the legal and equitable estates shall be held by them as tenants in common unless such persons otherwise agree.

Release and disclaimer of powers

28 Release and disclaimer of powers

(1) A person to whom is given any power (other than a power coupled with a duty), whether coupled with an interest or not, may by deed release or contract not to exercise the power.

(2) Any such person as aforesaid may by deed disclaim any such power, and after such disclaimer shall not be capable of exercising or joining in the exercise of the power.

(3) On such disclaimer the power may be exercised by the other or others, or the survivors or survivor of the others, of the persons to whom the power is given, unless the contrary is expressed in the instrument creating the power.

(4) This section applies to powers created by instruments coming into operation either before or after the commencement of this Act.

(5) Where any such power is exercisable by a dealing to be registered under the Real Property Act 1900, the power may be released or disclaimed by a dealing in the form approved under that Act and such a dealing may be registered under that Act.

s 28: Am 1972 No 17, sec 4 (d).

Appointments to be valid notwithstanding one or more objects excluded

29 Appointments to be valid notwithstanding one or more objects excluded

(1) No appointment in exercise of any power to appoint any property amongst several objects shall be invalid on the ground that any object of the power has been altogether excluded, but every such appointment shall be valid and effectual notwithstanding that any one or more of the objects do not by such appointment or in default of appointment take a share or shares of the property.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prejudice or affect any provision in any instrument creating any power which declares the amount of the share or shares from which no object of the power shall be excluded, or some one or more object or objects shall not be excluded.

(3) This section applies to appointments made after the commencement of this Act in exercise of powers created before or after the commencement of this Act.

29A

Protection of purchasers claiming under certain void appointments

29A Protection of purchasers claiming under certain void appointments

(1) An instrument purporting to exercise a legal or equitable power of appointment over property, which, in default of and subject to any appointment, is limited to or held in trust for a class or number of persons including the appointee, shall not be void on the ground of fraud on the power as against a purchaser in good faith—

Provided that, if the interest appointed exceeds in amount or value the interest in such property to which immediately before the execution of the instrument the appointee was presumptively entitled under the trust in default of appointment, having regard to any advances made in the appointee’s favour and to any hotchpot provision, the protection afforded by this section to a purchaser shall not extend to such excess.

(2) In this section a purchaser in good faith means a person dealing with an appointee for valuable consideration and without notice of the fraud, or of any circumstances from which, if reasonable inquiries had been made, the fraud might have been discovered.

(3) A successor in title to a purchaser entitled to the benefit of this section shall be entitled to the like benefit.

(4) This section applies only to dealings effected after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, but applies to powers created or arising either before or after such commencement.

(5) This section as amended by the Minors (Property and Contracts) Act 1970 applies only to dealings effected after the commencement of that Act, but applies to powers created or arising either before or after such commencement.

s 29A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 7 (a). Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.

29B

Restrictions on executory limitations

29B Restrictions on executory limitations

(1) Where there is a person entitled to—

(a) land for an estate in fee simple or for any less estate or interest, or

(b) any other property,

with an executory limitation over on default or failure of all or any of the person’s issue, whether within or at any specified period of time or not, that executory limitation shall be or become void and incapable of taking effect, if and as soon as there is living any issue who has attained the age of eighteen years of the class on default or failure whereof the limitation over was to take effect.

(2) This section applies where the executory limitation is contained in an instrument coming into operation after the first day of July one thousand nine hundred and twenty save that, as regards instruments coming into operation before the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 it only applies to limitations of land for an estate in fee, or for a term of years absolute or determinable on life, or for a term of life.

(3) This section as amended by the Minors (Property and Contracts) Act 1970 applies where the executory limitation is contained in an instrument coming into operation after the commencement of that Act.

s 29B: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 7 (a). Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.

29C

Restrictions on operation of conditions of forfeiture

29C Restrictions on operation of conditions of forfeiture

(1) Where there is a person entitled to income (including an annuity or other periodical income) or any other property, subject to a condition of forfeiture on alienation, whether voluntary or involuntary, and whether with or without words of futurity, then—

(a) unless the instrument containing the condition expressly provides to the contrary, no alienation, whether by way of charge or otherwise, of the income or other property, made or occurring before the person becomes entitled to receive payment of the income, or to call for a conveyance or delivery of the other property, shall operate to create forfeiture under the condition unless the alienation is in operation at the time the person becomes so entitled,

(b) notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary in the instrument containing the condition no voluntary alienation made by the person, with the sanction of the court, shall operate to create forfeiture under the condition.

(2) This section applies where the condition of forfeiture is contained in an instrument executed, made, or coming into operation before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, but only in cases where such person becomes entitled to receive payment of the income, or to call for an assurance or delivery of the other property, or, where the alienation with the sanction of the court is made after such commencement.

s 29C: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 7 (a).

Notice of severance of joint tenancy

30 Notice of severance of joint tenancy

(1) A person who unilaterally severs, or causes the severance of, a joint tenancy in land to which the Real Property Act 1900 does not apply must give notice of the severance to all joint tenants in the joint tenancy as soon as practicable after the joint tenancy has been severed.

(2) The notice is to be given in a form approved by the Registrar-General.

(3) Failure to give notice as required by and in accordance with this section does not invalidate or otherwise affect the severance of the joint tenancy.

s 30: Rep 1930 No 44, sec 7 (b). Ins 1997 No 95, Sch 2 [1].

31

31, 31A (Repealed)

Vesting in executor or administrator de bonis non

32 Vesting in executor or administrator de bonis non

(1) Where, upon the death of an executor or administrator, administration of the estate remaining unadministered is granted, such estate shall, upon the grant, vest as from the death of such executor or administrator, in the person to whom the grant is made.

(2) Where in the case of a person dying on or after the fifteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety (being the day of the passing of the Probate Act of 1890), administration of the estate remaining unadministered has been granted prior to the commencement of this Act, a conveyance by the person to whom the grant was made shall be deemed to be and to have been effectual to pass any legal estate in the property conveyed which was vested in the deceased executor or administrator at the time of his or her death.

Meaning of heir, next of kin, or statutory next of kin of any person

33 Meaning of heir, next of kin, or statutory next of kin of any person

(1) Where, under the terms of any will coming into operation, or of any instrument (other than a will) made, after the commencement of section 3 of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1977, any property would, but for this section, vest in—

(a) the heirs of a person,

(b) the next of kin of a person, or

(c) the next of kin of a person to be determined in accordance with the Probate and Administration Act 1898,

the provisions of the applicable intestacy rules shall, subject to subsection (2), apply in respect of that property in the same way as those provisions would apply if that person had died intestate as to that property.

(2) Subsection (1) applies only if and so far as a contrary or another intention is not expressed in the will or other instrument and shall have effect subject to the provisions of the will or other instrument.

(3) Where, under the terms of any will coming into operation, or of any instrument (other than a will) made, before the commencement of section 3 of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1977, any property would, but for this subsection, vest in—

(a) the heirs of a person,

(b) the next of kin of a person, or

(c) the next of kin of a person to be determined in accordance with the Probate and Administration Act 1898,

that property shall vest in the persons in whom it would have vested if that section had not commenced.

(4) In subsection (1)—

applicable intestacy rules means—

(a) for a will coming into operation, or an instrument made, before the repeal of Division 2A of Part 2 of the Probate and Administration Act 1898—that Division as in force immediately before its repeal, and

(b) for a will coming into operation, or an instrument made, after the repeal of that Division—Chapter 4 (Intestacy) of the Succession Act 2006.

s 33: Am 1954 No 40, sec 2 (3). Subst 1977 No 118, sec 3. Am 2006 No 80, Sch 3.5 [3]; 2009 No 29, Sch 2.2 [1] [2].

Meaning of heir (male or female) or heirs (male or female) of the body of any person

34 Meaning of heir (male or female) or heirs (male or female) of the body of any person

(1) Where under the terms of any instrument coming into operation after the commencement of this Act any property vests in—

(a) the heir or heirs of the body of any person, or

(b) the heir or heirs male, or the heir or heirs male of the body of any person, or

(c) the heir or heirs female, or the heir or heirs female of the body of any person,

the property shall vest as follows—

In case (a) in the issue of such person as tenants in common per stirpes,

in case (b) in the sons and issue of sons of such person as tenants in common per stirpes, and

in case (c) in the daughters and the issue of daughters of such person as tenants in common per stirpes.

(2) This section applies only if and as far as a contrary or other intention is not expressed in the instrument, and shall have effect subject to the terms of the instrument and to the provisions therein contained.

Presumption of survivorship

35 Presumption of survivorship

In all cases where two or more persons have died under circumstances rendering it uncertain which of them survived, the deaths shall for all purposes affecting the title to any property be presumed to have taken place in order of seniority, and the younger be deemed to have survived the elder.

36

36 (Repealed)

36A

Power to direct division of chattels

36A Power to direct division of chattels

Where any chattels belong to persons jointly or in undivided shares, the persons interested to the extent of a moiety or upwards may apply to the court for an order for division of the chattels or any of them, according to a valuation or otherwise, and the court may make such order and give any consequential directions as it thinks fit.

s 36A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 9.

36B

Contingent and future interests to carry the intermediate income

36B Contingent and future interests to carry the intermediate income

Where under an instrument other than a will coming into operation after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 property stands limited to a person for a contingent or future interest, or stands limited to trustees upon trust for a person whose interest is contingent or executory, such interest shall, subject to the statutory provisions relating to accumulations, carry the intermediate income of that property from the time when the instrument comes into operation, except so far as such income or any part thereof may be otherwise expressly disposed of.

s 36B: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 9. Rep 2006 No 80, Sch 3.5 [3A] (am 2007 No 82, Sch 1.23 [22]). Ins 2008 No 75, Sch 2.1 [1].

36C

Persons taking who are not parties

36C Persons taking who are not parties

(1) A person may take an immediate or other interest in land or other property, or the benefit of any condition, right of entry, covenant, or agreement over or respecting land or other property, although the person may not be named as a party to the assurance or other instrument.

(2) Such person may sue, and shall be entitled to all rights and remedies in respect thereof as if he or she had been named as a party to the assurance or other instrument.

s 36C: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 9.

36D

Provisions as to supplemental instruments

36D Provisions as to supplemental instruments

Any instrument (whether executed before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930) expressed to be supplemental to a previous instrument, shall, as far as may be, be read and have effect as if the supplemental instrument contained a full recital of the previous instrument, but this section shall not operate to give any right to an abstract or production of any such previous instrument, and a purchaser may accept the same evidence that the previous instrument does not affect the title as if it had merely been mentioned in the supplemental instrument.

s 36D: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 9.

37

37 (Repealed)

Division 5

Voidable dispositions

Division 5 Voidable dispositions

pt 2, div 5: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 10.

37A

Voluntary alienation to defraud creditors voidable

37A Voluntary alienation to defraud creditors voidable

(1) Save as provided in this section, every alienation of property, made whether before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, with intent to defraud creditors, shall be voidable at the instance of any person thereby prejudiced.

(2) This section does not affect the law of bankruptcy for the time being in force.

(3) This section does not extend to any estate or interest in property alienated to a purchaser in good faith not having, at the time of the alienation, notice of the intent to defraud creditors.

s 37A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 10. Am 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (5).

37B

Voluntary alienation of land how far voidable as against purchasers

37B Voluntary alienation of land how far voidable as against purchasers

(1) Every instrument (other than a will) which operates, or on registration would operate as a voluntary alienation of land, shall, if made with intent to defraud a subsequent purchaser, be voidable at the instance of a subsequent purchaser.

(2) For the purposes of this section no such instrument (whether made before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930) shall, if registered before a subsequent purchase, be deemed to have been made with intent to defraud by reason only of that purchase, or that the instrument was not made for valuable consideration.

s 37B: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 10.

37C

Acquisitions of reversions at an under value

37C Acquisitions of reversions at an under value

(1) No acquisition made in good faith, without fraud or unfair dealing, of any reversionary interest in real or personal property for money or money’s worth, shall be liable to be opened or set aside merely on the ground of under value.

In this subsection reversionary interest includes an expectancy or possibility.

(2) This section does not affect the jurisdiction of the court to set aside or modify unconscionable bargains.

s 37C: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 10.

Division 6

37D (Repealed)

pt 2, div 6 (s 37D): Ins 1938 No 30, sec 3 (a). Rep 1993 No 10, sec 27.

Part 3

General rules relating to deeds

Part 3 General rules relating to deeds

Signature and attestation

38 Signature and attestation

(1) Every deed, whether or not affecting property, shall be signed as well as sealed, and shall be attested by at least one witness not being a party to the deed; but no particular form of words shall be requisite for the attestation.

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), but without prejudice to any other method of signing, a deed is sufficiently signed by a person if—

(a) by the direction and in the presence of that person the deed is signed in the name of that person by another person,

(b) the signature is attested by a person who is not a party or signatory (except by way of attestation) to the deed, and

(c) the person attesting the signature certifies in his or her attestation that he or she is a prescribed witness and that the signature was affixed by the direction and in the presence of the person whose signature it purports to be.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1) but without prejudice to any other method of signing, a deed is sufficiently signed by a person if—

(a) that person affixes his or her mark to the deed,

(b) the affixing of the mark is attested by a person who is not a party or signatory (except by way of attestation) to the deed, and

(c) the person attesting the affixing of the mark certifies in his or her attestation—

(i) that, before the mark was affixed, he or she explained the nature and effect of the deed to the person making the mark, and

(ii) that he or she believed, at the time the mark was affixed, that the person making the mark understood the explanation.

(2) Indenting shall not be necessary in any case.

(3) Every instrument expressed to be an indenture or a deed, or to be sealed, which is signed and attested in accordance with this section, shall be deemed to be sealed.

(4) Every deed, executed and attested in accordance with this section may be proved in the same manner as a deed not required by law to be attested might have been proved heretofore.

(5) Nothing in this section contained shall affect—

(a) the execution of deeds by corporations, or

(b) the provisions of section 184F(4), or

(c) any deed executed prior to the commencement of this Act.

s 38: Am 1976 No 84, Sch 1; 1984 No 20, Sch 1 (2).

38A

Electronic form deeds

38A Electronic form deeds

(1) A deed may be created in electronic form and electronically signed and attested.

(2) Section 38(5)(a) does not limit the application of this section to the execution of deeds by corporations.

s 38A: Ins 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [3]. Am 2021 No 32, Sch 1.3[1] [2].

Receipt in deed sufficient

39 Receipt in deed sufficient

(1) A receipt for consideration money or securities in the body of a deed shall be a sufficient discharge for the same to the person paying or delivering the same without any further receipt for the same being indorsed on the deed.

(2) This section applies only to deeds executed after the commencement of this Act.

Receipt in deed or indorsed evidence for subsequent purchaser

40 Receipt in deed or indorsed evidence for subsequent purchaser

(1) A receipt for consideration money or other consideration in the body of a deed or indorsed thereon shall in favour of a subsequent purchaser not having notice that the money or other consideration thereby acknowledged to be received was not in fact paid or given wholly or in part be sufficient evidence of the payment or giving of the whole amount thereof.

(2) This section applies to deeds executed or indorsements made before or after the commencement of this Act.

Mode of exercise of powers

41 Mode of exercise of powers

(1) Where a power of appointment by an instrument other than a will is exercised by deed, executed and attested in accordance with this Act, or in the case of a dealing under the Real Property Act 1900 in accordance with that Act, such deed or dealing shall, so far as respects the execution and attestation thereof, be a valid exercise of the power, notwithstanding that by the instrument creating the power some additional or other form of execution or attestation or solemnity is required.

(2) This section applies to the exercise after the commencement of this Act of any such power created by an instrument coming into operation before or after the commencement of this Act.

s 41: Am 1972 No 17, sec 5.

Form of deed

43 Form of deed

A deed according to the form in the Second Schedule, or to the effect thereof, shall be effectual to pass any land for such estate as therein expressed.

No use to result from absence of consideration

44 No use to result from absence of consideration

(1) No use shall be held to result merely from the absence of consideration in a conveyance of land as to which no uses or trusts are therein declared.

(2) Every limitation which may be made by way of use operating under the Statute of Uses or this Act may be made by direct conveyance without the intervention of uses.

(2A) A provision in any instrument executed, made, or coming into operation whether before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, directing or authorising land to be conveyed by way of use operating under the Statute of Uses may be given effect to by a direct conveyance without the intervention of uses.

(3) This section applies only to deeds executed after the commencement of this Act.

s 44: Am 1930 No 44, sec 11 (b).

Grant of easements etc by way of use

45 Grant of easements etc by way of use

(1) A conveyance of freehold land to the use that any person may have, for an estate or interest not exceeding in duration the estate conveyed in the land, any easement, profit à prendre, right, liberty, or privilege in, or over, or with respect to that land, or any part thereof, shall operate to vest in possession in that person that easement, profit à prendre, right, liberty, or privilege, for the estate or interest expressed to be limited to him or her; and the person, and the persons deriving title under him or her, shall have, use, and enjoy the same accordingly.

(2) This section applies only to conveyances made after the commencement of this Act.

s 45: Am 1987 No 242, Sch 1 (1).

45A

Reservation of easements etc in conveyances of land

45A Reservation of easements etc in conveyances of land

(1) In a conveyance of land a reservation of any easement, profit à prendre, right, liberty, or privilege not exceeding in duration the estate conveyed in the land, shall operate without any execution of the conveyance by the grantee of the land out of which the reservation is made, or any regrant by the grantee, so as to create the easement, profit à prendre, right, liberty, or privilege, and so as to vest the same in possession in the person (whether being the grantor or not) for whose benefit the reservation is made.

(2) This section applies only to reservations made after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930.

s 45A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 11 (c). Am 1987 No 242, Sch 1 (2).

In conveyance use of word grant unnecessary

46 In conveyance use of word grant unnecessary

In a conveyance executed after the commencement of this Act it shall not be necessary in order to convey land to use the word grant, but any words heretofore proper to convey land, and any other words indicating an intention to convey land, shall be sufficient.

Words of limitation in fee

47 Words of limitation in fee

(1) In a deed it shall be sufficient in the limitation of an estate in fee simple to use the words in fee or fee simple without the word heirs, or in the case of a corporation sole without the word successors, or to use the words in tail or in tail male or in tail female, without the words heirs of the body, or heirs male of the body, or heirs female of the body.

(2) Where land is conveyed to or to the use of any person without words of limitation, such conveyance shall be construed to pass the fee simple or other the whole estate or interest the person conveying had power to dispose of by deed in such land unless a contrary intention appears by such conveyance.

(3) This section applies only to deeds executed after the commencement of this Act.

48

48, 49 (Repealed)

Rights of entry etc

50 Rights of entry etc

(1) Every right of entry, contingent remainder, and every contingent or executory or future estate, right, or interest, or possibility coupled with an interest, in property, may be conveyed by deed.

(2) Any conveyance of a present right of entry in any land, other than a conveyance to the person in possession thereof, and any covenant or agreement for, or promise of a conveyance (other than as aforesaid) of the same shall be void as against the person in possession or those claiming under him or her unless the person conveying or covenanting, agreeing, or promising to convey, or the person through whom he or she claims has been in possession of the land within twelve months from the date of the conveyance, covenant, agreement or promise.

(3) Sections two and four of the Imperial Act thirty-two, Henry the Eighth, chapter nine (known as The Bill of Bracery and Buying of Titles), are hereby repealed so far as the same apply to New South Wales.

51

51 (Repealed)

51A

Execution of instruments by or on behalf of corporations

51A Execution of instruments by or on behalf of corporations

(1) In favour of a purchaser in good faith—

(a) a deed shall be deemed to have been duly executed by a corporation aggregate if its seal is affixed thereto in the presence of and attested by its clerk, secretary, or other permanent officer or his or her deputy, and a member of the board of directors, council, or other governing body of the corporation, and

(b) where a seal purporting to be the seal of a corporation has been affixed to a deed attested by persons purporting to be persons holding such offices as aforesaid, the deed shall be deemed to have been executed in accordance with the requirements of this section, and to have taken effect accordingly.

(2) The board of directors, council, or other governing body of a corporation aggregate may, by resolution or otherwise, appoint an agent either generally or in any particular case, to execute on behalf of the corporation any agreement or other instrument not under seal in relation to any matter within the powers of the corporation or any registration copy of any instrument to which the corporation is a party.

(3) Where a person is authorised under a power of attorney or under any statutory or other power to assure any property in the name or on behalf of a corporation sole or aggregate, the person may as attorney execute the assurance by signing his or her name in such way as to show that the person does so as attorney of the corporation in the presence of at least one witness, and in the case of a deed by executing the same in accordance with section 38, and such execution shall take effect and be valid in like manner as if the corporation had executed the assurance.

(4) Where a corporation aggregate is authorised under a power of attorney or under any statutory or other power to assure any property in the name or on behalf of any other person (including another corporation), an officer appointed for that purpose, either generally or in the particular instance, by the board of directors, council, or other governing body of the corporation by resolution or otherwise, may execute the assurance in the name of such other person; and where an instrument is executed by an officer who purports to be so appointed, then in favour of a purchaser in good faith the instrument shall be deemed to have been executed by an officer duly authorised.

(5) The foregoing provisions of this section apply to transactions wherever effected, but only to deeds and instruments executed after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, except that, in the case of a power or an appointment of an agent or officer, they apply whether the power was conferred or the appointment was made before or after such commencement or by this Act.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any mode of execution or attestation authorised by law or by practice, or by the Act, charter, memorandum or articles, deed of settlement, or other instrument constituting the corporation or regulating the affairs thereof, shall (in addition to the modes authorised by this section) be as effectual as if this section had not been passed.

pt 3, div 4 (s 51A): Ins 1930 No 44, sec 12.

Part 4

Sales and other transactions

Part 4 Sales and other transactions

Division 1A

Application of Part

Division 1A Application of Part

pt 4, div 1A, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.22 [2].

Application of Part 4 to land under Real Property Act 1900

52 Application of Part 4 to land under Real Property Act 1900

(1) Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall not apply, but Divisions 5 and 6 shall apply and shall be deemed to have applied from the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, except where otherwise provided.

(2) Divisions 7, 8, 9 and 10 shall apply to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 52: Subst 1932 No 65, sec 2 (a). Am 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (1); 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (2); 2015 No 62, Sch 1 [1].

52A

Contracts for sale of land

52A Contracts for sale of land

(1) Except in so far as the regulations may otherwise provide, this section applies to contracts for the sale of any land, including land subject to the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 or any other Act and irrespective of whether or not any such Act makes provision for or with respect to the conveyance or transfer of land.

(2) A vendor under a contract for the sale of land—

(a) shall, before the contract is signed by or on behalf of the purchaser, attach to the contract such documents, or copies of such documents, as may be prescribed, and

(b) shall be deemed to have included in the contract such terms, conditions and warranties as may be prescribed.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act (whether assented to before, on or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1985) or any other law, where a vendor attaches to a contract for the sale of land a certificate or other document, or a copy of a certificate or other document, issued, on or before the date of the contract, to the vendor or to a person on the vendor’s behalf by a government department, a statutory authority, the council of a local government area or a prescribed person or body, being a document—

(a) which is, or a copy of which is, required to be attached to the contract pursuant to subsection (2)(a),

(b) which contains information consistent with the provisions of a term, condition or warranty prescribed as referred to in subsection (2)(b), or

(c) which contains information which has caused the vendor to make a specific disclosure in the contract in relation to any such term, condition or warranty,

the purchaser or a mortgagee of the purchaser shall have and may exercise, in relation to the certificate or document, the rights, powers and immunities that the purchaser or mortgagee would have had if the certificate or document had been issued to the purchaser or mortgagee.

(4) Except in so far as the regulations may otherwise provide, a provision, whether in a contract for the sale of land or any other agreement—

(a) which purports to exclude, modify or restrict any provision of this section or a regulation made for the purposes of this section, or

(b) which would, but for this subsection, have the effect of excluding, modifying or restricting any such provision,

is void.

(5) The regulations may provide that subsection (2) or any provision of that subsection shall not apply to or in respect of—

(a) a prescribed vendor or a vendor of a prescribed class or description,

(b) a prescribed contract or a contract of a prescribed class or description, or

(c) prescribed land or land of a prescribed class or description.

(6) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the remedies and relief available to a purchaser under a contract for the sale of land and the penalties which may be incurred by a vendor under such a contract—

(a) for any failure or refusal to comply with any of the provisions of this section, section 66ZM or the regulations made for the purposes of either of those sections, and

(b) for any breach of a term, condition or warranty deemed to be included in the contract under this section.

(7) Without limiting the generality of subsection (6), the remedies and relief may include remedies and relief by way of rescission of the contract by the purchaser and the payment of compensation by the vendor.

(8) The regulations may provide that a term, condition or warranty prescribed as referred to in subsection (2)(b) shall not merge in the transfer or conveyance on completion of the contract.

(9) The regulations—

(a) may require the inclusion in contracts for the sale of land of terms, conditions and warranties prescribed as referred to in subsection (2)(b), and

(b) may require the attachment to contracts for the sale of land of notices or other documents.

(10) This section binds the Crown.

s 52A: Ins 1985 No 142, Sch 1 (3). Am 1990 No 108, Sch 1; 2018 No 75, Sch 1[4] [5].

Obligation to show title etc

53 Obligation to show title etc

In the completion of any contract made after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 for the purchase of land and subject to any stipulation to the contrary in the contract—

(1) Thirty years shall be substituted as the period of commencement of title which a purchaser may require in place of forty years, the present period of such commencement; nevertheless earlier title than thirty years may be required in cases similar to those in which earlier title than forty years might before the commencement of such Act have been required, and

(2) The obligations and rights of vendor and purchaser shall be regulated as follows—

(a) Recitals, statements, and descriptions of facts, matters, and parties contained in instruments or statutory declarations twenty years old at the date of the contract shall, unless and except so far as they are proved to be inaccurate, be taken to be sufficient evidence of the truth of such facts, matters, and descriptions; but no recital shall affect the period of commencement of title under the last preceding subsection.

(b) The inability of the vendor to furnish the purchaser with a legal covenant to produce and furnish copies of documents of title shall not be an objection to title where the purchaser will, on the completion of the contract, have an equitable right to the production of such document.

(c) Such covenant for production as the purchaser can and does require and the vendor is able to procure shall be furnished at the purchaser’s expense, but the vendor shall bear the expense of perusal and execution on behalf of and by himself or herself.

(d) Where the vendor retains any part of an estate to which any documents of title relate the vendor shall be entitled to retain such documents.

(e) Where the vendor does not retain any part of an estate to which any documents of title relate and such documents are the subject of any covenant to produce or of any right in any person to their production, the vendor shall deposit such documents with the Registrar-General pursuant to section 64, and as soon after completion as reasonably possible furnish the purchaser with an attested copy of the receipt therefor, and it shall be the duty of the purchaser’s solicitor or licensed conveyancer to require an undertaking by the vendor or the vendor’s solicitor or licensed conveyancer so to furnish the same.

This paragraph shall, in relation to contracts made after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930, have effect notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary.

(3) A purchaser shall not be deemed to be or ever to have been affected with notice of any matter or thing of which, if he or she had investigated the title or made inquiries in regard to matters prior to the period of commencement of title fixed by this or any other Act, or by any rule of law, he or she might have had notice, unless he or she actually makes such investigation or inquiries.

s 53: Am 1930 No 44, sec 13; 1972 No 17, sec 6 (a); 1992 No 55, Sch 2.

Application of stated conditions to all sales

54 Application of stated conditions to all sales

(1) A purchaser of any property shall not require the production or any abstract or copy of any deed, will, or other document dated or made before the time prescribed by law or stipulated for commencement of the title, even though the same creates a power subsequently exercised by an instrument abstracted in the abstract furnished to the purchaser; nor shall the purchaser require any information or make any requisition or inquiry with respect to any such deed, will, or document, or the title prior to that time, notwithstanding that any such deed, will, or other document or that prior title is recited covenanted to be produced or noticed; and the purchaser shall assume unless the contrary appears that the recitals contained in the abstracted instruments of any deed, will, or other document forming part of that prior title are correct, and give all the material contents of the deed, will, or other document so recited and that every document so recited was duly executed by all necessary parties and perfected if and as required by acknowledgment or otherwise.

(2) Where land sold is held by lease (not including under-lease) the purchaser shall assume unless the contrary appears that the lease was duly granted; and on production of the receipt for the last payment due for rent under the lease before the date of actual completion of the purchase the purchaser shall assume unless the contrary appears that all the covenants and provisions of the lease have been duly performed and observed up to the date of actual completion of the purchase.

(3) Where land sold is held by under-lease the purchaser shall assume unless the contrary appears that the under-lease and every superior lease were duly granted; and on production of the receipt for the last payment due for rent under the under-lease before the date of actual completion of the purchase the purchaser shall assume unless the contrary appears that all the covenants and provisions of the under-lease have been duly performed and observed up to the date of actual completion of the purchase, and further, that all rent due under every superior lease and all the covenants and provisions of every superior lease have been paid and duly performed and observed up to that date.

(4) On a sale of any property the expenses of the production and inspection of all records, proceedings of courts, deeds, wills, probates, letters of administration, and other documents not in the vendor’s possession, and the expenses of all journeys incidental to such production or inspection, and the expenses of searching for, procuring, making, verifying, and producing all certificates, declarations, evidences, and information not in the vendor’s possession, and all attested stamped office or other copies or abstracts of or extracts from any documents aforesaid not in the vendor’s possession, if any such production, inspection, journey, search, procuring, making, or verifying is required by a purchaser either for verification of the abstract or for any other purpose shall be borne by the purchaser who requires the same; and where the vendor retains possession of any document the expenses of making any copy thereof attested or unattested which a purchaser requires to be delivered to him or her shall be borne by that purchaser.

(5) On a sale of any property in lots a purchaser of two or more lots held wholly or partly under the same title shall not have a right to more than one abstract of the common title except at the purchaser’s own expense.

(6) This section applies only to titles and purchasers on sales properly so called notwithstanding any interpretation in this Act.

(7) This section applies only if and as far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the contract of sale, and shall have effect subject to the terms of the contract, and to the provisions therein contained.

(8) This section applies only to sales made after the commencement of this Act.

(9) Nothing in this section shall be construed as binding a purchaser to complete his or her purchase in any case where on a contract made independently of this section and containing stipulations similar to the provisions of this section, or any of them, specific performance of the contract would not be enforced against the purchaser by the Court.

(10) Nothing in this or the last preceding section shall preclude a purchaser from raising any objection to the vendor’s title before the time prescribed by law or stipulated for commencement of the title.

54A

Contracts for sale etc of land to be in writing

54A Contracts for sale etc of land to be in writing

(1) No action or proceedings may be brought upon any contract for the sale or other disposition of land or any interest in land, unless the agreement upon which such action or proceedings is brought, or some memorandum or note thereof, is in writing, and signed by the party to be charged or by some other person thereunto lawfully authorised by the party to be charged.

(2) This section applies to contracts whether made before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 and does not affect the law relating to part performance, or sales by the court.

(3) This section applies and shall be deemed to have applied from the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

(4) A contract referred to in subsection (1) is not invalidated or rendered unenforceable only because it has been created in electronic form and electronically signed or attested.

s 54A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 14. Am 1932 No 65, sec 2 (b); 1970 No 52, Second Sch (am 1972 No 41, Second Sch); 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [6].

54B

Damages: defective title

54B Damages: defective title

(1) The rule of law known as the rule in Bain v Fothergill is abolished in relation to contracts for the sale or other disposal of land or any interest in land made after the commencement of this section.

(2) The Court may award damages for loss of bargain against a vendor who cannot perform such a contract because of a defect in the vendor’s title.

(3) This section has effect notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary.

(4) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 54B: Ins 1997 No 17, Sch 1 [1].

Right of purchaser to recover deposit etc

55 Right of purchaser to recover deposit etc

(1) In every case where specific performance of a contract would not be enforced against the purchaser by the Court by reason of a defect in the vendor’s title, but the purchaser is not entitled to rescind the contract, the purchaser shall nevertheless be entitled to recover his or her deposit and any instalments of purchase money he or she has paid, and to be relieved from all liability under the contract whether at law or in equity, unless the contract discloses such defect and contains a stipulation precluding the purchaser from objecting thereto.

(2) If such undisclosed defect is one which is known or ought to have been known to the vendor at the date of the contract the purchaser shall in addition be entitled to recover his or her expenses of investigating the title.

(2A) In every case where the court refuses to grant specific performance of a contract, or in any proceeding for the return of a deposit, the court may, if it thinks fit, order the repayment of any deposit with or without interest thereon.

(3) On the application of the purchaser the Court may order payment under this section and declare and enforce a lien in respect thereof on the property the subject of the contract.

(4) This section applies only to contracts made after the commencement of this Act and shall have effect notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary.

(5) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 55: Am 1930 No 44, sec 15 (a); 1970 No 52, Second Sch (am 1972 No 41, Second Sch).

No rescission by vendor on purchaser’s objections etc until purchaser has reasonable opportunity to waive objections etc

56 No rescission by vendor on purchaser’s objections etc until purchaser has reasonable opportunity to waive objections etc

(1) In any contract the vendor shall not be entitled to exercise any right to rescind the contract, whether given by the contract or otherwise, on the ground of any requisition or objection made by the purchaser unless and until the vendor has given the purchaser reasonable notice of his or her intention to rescind so as to enable the purchaser to waive the requisition or objection.

(2) This section applies only to contracts made after the commencement of this Act, and shall have effect notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary.

(3) This section applies to lands under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

Conditions of sale of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900

57 Conditions of sale of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900

(1) Under a contract for the purchase of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, the purchaser shall be entitled at the cost of the vendor—

(a) to receive from the vendor sufficient particulars of title to enable the purchaser to prepare the appropriate dealing to give effect to the contract, and

(b) to receive from the vendor an abstract of any instrument forming part of the vendor’s title, in respect of which a caveat is entered upon the Register kept under that Act, and

(c) to have a document of title lodged by the vendor with the Registrar-General to enable the dealing to be registered, and

(d) to have any objection to the registration of the dealing removed by the vendor: Provided that, as to any such objection which the purchaser ought to have raised on the particulars or abstract, or upon the investigation of the title, or which arises from the purchaser’s own act, default, or omission, the purchaser shall not be entitled to have the same removed except at the purchaser’s own cost.

(2) This section applies only if and as far as a contrary intention is not expressed in the contract, and shall have effect subject to the terms of the contract, and to the provisions therein contained.

s 57: Am 1972 No 17, sec 6 (b); 2016 No 46, Sch 4.2 [5]; 2021 No 10, Sch 3.7[2].

Notice of restrictive covenants

58 Notice of restrictive covenants

(1) Where land having a common title with other land is disposed of to a purchaser (other than a lessee or a mortgagee) who does not hold or obtain possession of the documents forming the common title, such purchaser, notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary, may require that a memorandum giving notice of any provision contained in the disposition to him or her restrictive of user of, or giving rights over, any other land comprised in the common title shall where practicable, be indorsed on, or, where impracticable, be permanently annexed to some one document selected by the purchaser but retained in the possession or power of the person who makes the disposition, or to be deposited by him or her with the Registrar-General under section 53(2)(e), and being or forming part of the common title.

(2) The title of any person omitting to require an indorsement to be made or a memorandum to be annexed shall not, by reason only of this enactment, be prejudiced or affected by the omission.

s 58: Am 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (7).

Rights of purchaser as to execution

59 Rights of purchaser as to execution

(1) On a sale, the purchaser shall not be entitled to require that the conveyance to him or her be executed in his or her presence or in that of his or her solicitor or licensed conveyancer as such; but shall be entitled to have at his or her own cost the execution of the conveyance attested by some person appointed by him or her, who may, if the purchaser thinks fit, be his or her solicitor or licensed conveyancer.

(2) This section applies only to sales made after the commencement of this Act.

s 59: Am 1992 No 55, Sch 2.

Implied conditions in contracts for sale of land

60 Implied conditions in contracts for sale of land

(1) Every contract made after the commencement of this Act for the sale of land shall be deemed to be made subject to the conditions of sale set out in the Third Schedule, subject, nevertheless, to any other condition or provision contained in the contract expressly or by necessary implication modifying or excluding any of them.

(2) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

Conditions of sale and agreements as to stamp duty void

61 Conditions of sale and agreements as to stamp duty void

(1) Every condition of sale, framed with the view of precluding objection or requisition upon the ground of absence or insufficiency of stamp upon any instrument executed before or after the commencement of this Act, and every contract, arrangement, or undertaking for assuming the liability on account of absence or insufficiency of stamp upon any such instrument or indemnifying against such liability, absence, or insufficiency, shall be void.

(2) This section applies to conditions of sale contracts, arrangements or undertakings relating to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 61: Am 1932 No 65, sec 2 (c).

62

62 (Repealed)

Covenants to produce implied by schedule of documents

63 Covenants to produce implied by schedule of documents

(1) In a deed to which there is a schedule of documents expressed to be covenanted to be produced by any party indicated as the covenantor to any party indicated as the covenantee, there shall be deemed to be included and there shall by virtue of this Act be implied a covenant by such covenantor with such covenantee that the covenantor, the covenantor’s executors, administrators, or assigns, or other the person for the time being in whose possession the documents mentioned in such schedule ought to be, at the request and cost of the covenantee, the covenantee’s executors, administrators, or assigns, will unless prevented by fire or other accident, produce within New South Wales as often as required to the covenantee or them or as the covenantee or they shall direct all documents mentioned in such schedule, and that the covenantor, the covenantor’s executors, administrators, or assigns, or such other person as aforesaid, will, unless prevented as aforesaid, keep the said documents safe, whole, and uncancelled, save so far as they shall be cancelled on the bringing under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900 of any of the land to which they relate.

(2) Such covenant shall bind the person in whose possession the documents the subject thereof should for the time being be: Provided, however, that if any person not being entitled to the possession of any document shall impliedly covenant to produce it, the liability under the covenant shall not extend beyond the covenantor, the covenantor’s executors, administrators, and assigns, but the covenantor and they shall be and remain subject to such liability.

(3) Any person claiming to be entitled to the benefit of a covenant implied as aforesaid may apply to the Court for an order directing the production of the documents to which it relates, or any of them, or the delivery of copies of or extracts from those documents, or any of them, to the person or some person on his or her behalf, and the Court may, if it thinks fit, order production, or production and delivery accordingly, and may give directions respecting the time, place, terms, and mode of production or delivery, and may make such order as it thinks fit respecting the costs of the application or any other matter connected with the application.

(4) Any person claiming to be entitled to the benefit of such covenant may apply to the Court to assess damages for any loss, destruction of, or injury to the documents, or any of them, and the Court may, if it thinks fit, assess damages accordingly and order payment thereof by the person liable.

(5) This section only applies to deeds made after the commencement of this Act.

s 63: Am 1970 No 52, Second Sch (am 1972 No 41, Second Sch).

Satisfaction of covenants to produce deeds

64 Satisfaction of covenants to produce deeds

(1) A covenant or undertaking expressed or implied whether entered into before or after the commencement of this Act to produce any document relating to land, shall be satisfied by a deposit of the document permanently with the Registrar-General, who shall give a receipt for and keep a list of all documents so deposited, and shall, on payment of the prescribed fees, permit any person to search therein and to inspect and obtain copies of every such deed.

(2) Where the Registrar-General has—

(a) pursuant to section 17(2) of the Real Property Act 1900, or pursuant to section 31A(2) of that Act, created a folio or folios of the Register, or

(b) pursuant to section 28MF of that Act, cancelled the caution or cautions recorded in any folio or folios of the Register,

for the whole of the land affected by a document deposited pursuant to subsection (1) or deposited before the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1972, pursuant to section 53(2)(e) the Registrar-General may, notwithstanding subsection (1) but subject to the State Records Act 1998, destroy that document.

s 64: Am 1972 No 17, sec 6 (d); 1976 No 84, Sch 5 (4); 1979 No 171, Sch 1 (1) (am 1984 No 153, Sch 16); 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (8); 2007 No 82, Sch 1.2 [2]; 2016 No 46, Sch 4.2 [6] [7]; 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [7].

Auction sales

65 Auction sales

(1) In the case of a sale of land by auction—

(a) where the sale is not notified in the conditions of sale to be subject to a right to bid on behalf of the vendor, the vendor shall not be entitled to bid himself or herself or to employ any person to bid at the sale, nor shall the auctioneer be entitled to take any bid from the vendor or any such person; any sale contravening this rule may be treated as fraudulent by the purchaser,

(b) a sale may be notified in the conditions of sale to be subject to a reserved or upset price, and a right to bid may also be therein expressly reserved by or on behalf of the vendor,

(c) where a right to bid is expressly reserved, but not otherwise, the vendor or any one person on the vendor’s behalf may bid at the auction.

(2) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900.

s 65: Am 1930 No 44, sec 15 (c).

Provision by court for incumbrances and sale freed therefrom

66 Provision by court for incumbrances and sale freed therefrom

(1) Where land subject to any incumbrance, whether immediately payable or not, is sold by the Court or out of court, the Court may, on the application of any party to the sale, direct or allow payment into court, in case of an annual sum charged on the land, or of a capital sum charged on a determinable interest in the land, of such amount as, when invested in Government securities, the Court considers will be sufficient, by means of the dividends thereof, to keep down or otherwise provide for that charge, and in any other case of capital money charged on the land, of the amount sufficient to meet the incumbrance and any interest due thereon; but in either case there shall also be paid into court such additional amount as the Court considers will be sufficient to meet the contingency of further costs, expenses, and interest, and any other contingency, except depreciation of investments, not exceeding one-tenth part of the original amount to be paid in, unless the Court for special reason thinks fit to require a larger additional amount.

(2) Thereupon the Court may, either after or without any notice to the incumbrancee as the Court thinks fit, declare the land to be freed from the incumbrance, and make any order for conveyance or vesting order proper for giving effect to the sale, and give directions for the retention and investment of the money in court.

(3) After notice served on the persons interested in or entitled to the money or fund in court, the Court may direct payment or transfer thereof to the persons entitled to receive or give a discharge for the same on such terms as to the delivering up of deeds or other documents, or on such other terms as the Court thinks fit, and generally may give directions respecting the application or distribution of the capital or income thereof.

(4) This section applies to sales not completed at the commencement of this Act, and to sales thereafter made.

(5) This section applies to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, and in such case the Registrar-General shall upon payment of the prescribed fee make all necessary recordings in the Register kept under that Act for giving effect to the order.

s 66: Am 1972 No 17, sec 6 (e).

66A

Consents to the execution of a trust for sale

66A Consents to the execution of a trust for sale

(1) If the consent or request of more than two persons is by the disposition made requisite to the execution of a trust for sale or the exercise of a power of sale of any property, then, in favour of a purchaser, the consent of any two of such persons to the execution of the trust or the exercise of the power or to the exercise of any statutory or other powers vested in the trustees shall be deemed sufficient.

(2) Where a person whose consent to or request for the execution of a trust for sale, or the exercise of a power of sale, of any property would, but for this subsection, be required in a disposition is a minor or is under mental disability, the person’s consent or request is not, in favour of a purchaser, necessary for the execution of the trust or the exercise of the power but the trust may not be executed or the power exercised without—

(a) where that person is a minor—the consent of the person’s parent or testamentary or other guardian,

(b) where that person is under mental disability—the consent of the person charged by law with the management and care of the person’s property, or

(c) where the relevant consent referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) cannot be obtained—the consent of the Court.

(3) This section applies whether the trust for sale or power of sale is created or arises before or after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930.

s 66A: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 16. Am 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1976 No 84, Sch 5 (5).

66B

Purchaser not to be concerned with the trusts of the proceeds of sale which are to be paid to two or more trustees or to a trust corporation

66B Purchaser not to be concerned with the trusts of the proceeds of sale which are to be paid to two or more trustees or to a trust corporation

(1) A purchaser of property from trustees for sale or having power of sale shall not be concerned with the trusts affecting the proceeds of sale of the property (whether made to attach to such proceeds by virtue of this Act or otherwise), or affecting the income of the property until sale, whether or not those trusts are declared by the same instrument by which the trust for sale or power of sale is created.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the instrument (if any) creating a trust for sale or power of sale of property or in the settlement of the net proceeds, the proceeds of sale or other capital money shall not be paid to or applied by the direction of fewer than two persons as trustees, except where the trustee is a trust corporation, or the trustee was appointed as a sole trustee by the instrument creating the trust or power, but this subsection does not affect the right of a sole personal representative as such to give valid receipts for, or direct the application of, the proceeds of sale or other capital money; nor, except where capital money arises on the transaction, render it necessary to have more than one trustee.

s 66B: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 16.

66C

Implied trust for sale in personalty settlements

66C Implied trust for sale in personalty settlements

(1) Where an instrument contains a power to invest money in the purchase of land, such land shall, unless the instrument otherwise provides, be held by the trustees on trust for sale, and the net rents and profits until sale, after keeping down costs of repairs properly payable out of income, insurance, and other outgoings, shall be paid or applied in like manner as the income of investments representing the purchase money would be payable or applicable if a sale had been made and the proceeds had been duly invested otherwise than in the purchase of land.

(2) This section applies only to instruments coming into operation after the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930.

s 66C: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 16.

66D

Powers of management etc conferred on trustees for sale

66D Powers of management etc conferred on trustees for sale

(1) Subject to any direction to the contrary in the disposition on trust for sale, trustees for sale shall, in relation to land during postponement of sale, have the powers of management conferred by section 151C during a minority, but without the restriction relating to waste and the cutting of timber.

(2) Subject to any direction to the contrary in the disposition on trust for sale or in the settlement of the proceeds of sale, the net rents and profits of the land until sale, after keeping down costs of repairs properly payable out of income, insurance, and other outgoings, shall be paid or applied in like manner as the income of investments representing the purchase money would be payable or applicable if a sale had been made and the proceeds had been duly invested.

(3) Where the net proceeds of sale have under the trusts affecting the same become absolutely vested in possession in two or more persons as joint tenants or tenants in common, the trustees for sale may, with the consent of the persons, if any, of the age of eighteen years or upwards, not being annuitants, interested in possession in the net rents and profits of the land until sale—

(a) partition the land remaining unsold or any part thereof, and

(b) provide (by way of mortgage or otherwise) for the payment of any equality money,

and, upon such partition being arranged, the trustees for sale shall give effect thereto by conveying the land so partitioned in severalty (subject or not to any mortgage created for raising equality money) to the persons entitled under the partition, but a purchaser shall not be concerned to see or inquire whether any such consent as aforesaid has been given.

(4)

(a) If a share in the net proceeds belongs to a person under mental disability, the consent of the person charged by law with the management and care of the property of the person under mental disability or, if there is no person so charged, of the court, shall be sufficient to protect the trustees for sale.

(b) If a share in the net proceeds is affected by an incumbrance, the trustees for sale may either give effect thereto or provide for the discharge thereof by means of the property allotted in respect of such share, as they may consider expedient.

(5) If a share in the net proceeds is absolutely vested in a minor, or in a person who cannot be found or ascertained, or as to whom it is uncertain whether the person is living or dead, the trustees for sale may act on behalf of the minor or person, and retain land or other property to represent the minor or person’s share.

(6) This section applies to dispositions on trust for sale coming into operation either before or after the commencement or by virtue of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930.

s 66D: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 16. Am 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1972 No 16, sec 6 (f).

66E

Powers of court where trustees for sale refuse to exercise powers

66E Powers of court where trustees for sale refuse to exercise powers

If the trustees for sale refuse to sell or to exercise any of the powers conferred by section 66D, or any requisite consent cannot be obtained, any person interested may apply to the court for a vesting or other order for giving effect to the proposed transaction or for an order directing the trustees for sale to give effect thereto, and the court may make such order as it thinks fit.

s 66E: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 16.

66F

Definitions

66F Definitions

In this Division—

(1) Co-ownership means ownership whether at law or in equity in possession by two or more persons as joint tenants or as tenants in common; and co-owner has a corresponding meaning and includes an incumbrancer of the interest of a joint tenant or tenant in common.

(2)

(a) Property held upon the “statutory trust for sale” shall be held upon trust to sell the same and to stand possessed of the net proceeds of sale, after payment of costs and expenses, and of the net income until sale after payment of costs, expenses, and outgoings, and in the case of land of rates, taxes, costs of insurance, repairs properly payable out of income, and other outgoings upon such trusts, and subject to such powers and provisions as may be requisite for giving effect to the rights of the co-owners,

(b) where—

(i) an undivided share is subject to a settlement, and

(ii) the settlement remains subsisting in respect of other property, and

(iii) the trustees thereof are not the same persons as the trustees for sale,

then the statutory trust for sale includes a trust for the trustees for sale to pay the proper proportion of the net proceeds of sale or other capital money attributable to the share to the trustees of the settlement to be held for and to go to the same persons successively in the same manner and for and on the same estates, interests, and trusts as the undivided share would if not disposed of have been held and have gone under the settlement.

(3) Property held upon the “statutory trust for partition” shall be held upon trust—

(a) with the consent of the incumbrancer of the entirety (if any) to partition the property and to provide (by way of mortgage or otherwise) for the payment of any equality money, and

(b) upon such partition being made to give effect thereto by assuring the property so partitioned in severalty (subject or not to any mortgage created for raising equality money) to the persons entitled under the partition, but a purchaser shall not be concerned to see or inquire whether any such consent as aforesaid has been given.

s 66F: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 17 (1).

66G

Statutory trusts for sale or partition of property held in co-ownership

66G Statutory trusts for sale or partition of property held in co-ownership

(1) Where any property (other than chattels) is held in co-ownership the court may, on the application of any one or more of the co-owners, appoint trustees of the property and vest the same in such trustees, subject to incumbrances affecting the entirety, but free from incumbrances affecting any undivided shares, to be held by them on the statutory trust for sale or on the statutory trust for partition.

(1A) Subject to this section, on the death of a co-owner, any proceedings by or against the co-owner under subsection (1) (whether instituted before or after the commencement of this subsection) survive against or for the benefit of the estate of the deceased co-owner despite, in the case of a joint tenancy, the rule of survivorship.

(2) Where the entirety of the property is vested in trustees or personal representatives, those trustees or personal representatives shall, unless the court otherwise determines, be appointed trustees on either of such statutory trusts, but subject, in the case of personal representatives, to their rights and powers for the purposes of administration.

(3)

(a) Where the entirety of the property is vested at law in co-owners the court may appoint a trust corporation either alone or with one or two individuals (whether or not being co-owners), or two or more individuals, not exceeding four (whether or not including one or more of the co-owners), to be trustees of the property on either of such statutory trusts.

(b) On such appointment the property shall, subject to the provisions of section 78 of the Trustee Act 1925, vest in the trustees.

(4) If, on an application for the appointment of trustees on the statutory trust for sale, any of the co-owners satisfies the court that partition of the property would be more beneficial for the co-owners interested to the extent of upwards of a moiety in value than sale, the court may, with the consent of the incumbrancers of the entirety (if any), appoint trustees of the property on the statutory trust for partition, or as to part of the property on the statutory trust for sale, and as to part on the statutory trust for partition, but a purchaser shall not be concerned to see or inquire whether any such consent as aforesaid has been given.

(5)

(a) When such trustees for partition have prepared a scheme of partition they shall serve notice in writing thereof on all the co-owners of the age of eighteen years or upwards, and any of such co-owners dissatisfied with the scheme may, within one month after service upon him or her of such notice, apply to the court for a variation of the same.

(b) Where any of the co-owners is a person under mental disability, the notice shall be served on the person charged by law with the management and care of the property of the person under mental disability or, if there is no person so charged, on such officer of the court as may be prescribed by rules of court.

(c) Where any of the co-owners is a minor or a person who cannot be found or ascertained, or as to whom it is uncertain whether the co-owner is living or dead, the trustees may act on behalf of the minor or person, and retain land or other property to represent the co-owner’s share.

(6) In relation to the sale or partition of property held in co-ownership, the court may alter such statutory trusts, and the trust so altered shall be deemed to be the statutory trust in relation to that property.

(7) Where property becomes subject to such statutory trust for sale—

(a) in the case of joint tenancy, a sale under the trust shall not of itself effect a severance of that tenancy,

(b) in any case land shall be deemed to be converted upon the appointment of trustees for sale unless the court otherwise directs.

(8) This section applies to property held in co-ownership at the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 and to property which becomes so held after such commencement.

(9) This section does not apply to property in respect of which a subsisting contract for sale (whether made under an order in a suit for partition, or by or on behalf of all the co-owners) is in force at the commencement of the Conveyancing (Amendment) Act 1930 if the contract is completed in due course, nor to land in respect of which a suit for partition is pending at such commencement if a decree for a partition or sale is subsequently made in such suit.

s 66G: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 17 (1). Am 1932 No 65, sec 2 (d); 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1972 No 17, sec 6 (g); 1997 No 95, Sch 2 [2].

66H

Trustee on statutory trusts for sale or partition to consult persons interested

66H Trustee on statutory trusts for sale or partition to consult persons interested

So far as practicable trustees on the statutory trust for sale, or on the statutory trust for partition, shall consult the persons of the age of eighteen years or upwards and not subject to disability for the time being beneficially entitled to the income of the property until sale or partition, and shall, so far as consistent with the general interest of the trust, give effect to the wishes of such persons, or, in the case of dispute, of the majority (according to the value of their combined interests) of such persons, but a purchaser shall not be concerned to see that the provisions of this section have been complied with.

s 66H: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 17 (1). Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.

66I

Right of co-owners to bid at sale under statutory power of sale

66I Right of co-owners to bid at sale under statutory power of sale

(1) On any sale under a statutory trust for sale the court may allow any of the co-owners of the property to purchase whether at auction or otherwise on such terms as to non-payment of deposit, or as to setting off or accounting for the purchase money or any part thereof instead of paying the same, or as to any other matters as to the court seems reasonable.

(2) A co-owner, with a right to purchase shall not, without the leave of the court, be entitled to act as trustee in connection with the sale.

s 66I: Ins 1930 No 44, sec 17 (1).

Division 7

Passing of risk between vendor and purchaser

Division 7 Passing of risk between vendor and purchaser

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66J

Definitions

66J Definitions

(1) In this Division—

damage includes destruction.

land includes buildings and other fixtures.

sale includes exchange.

(2) For the purposes of this Division, land damaged after the making of a contract for the sale of the land is substantially damaged if the damage renders the land materially different from that which the purchaser contracted to buy.

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66K

Postponement of passing of risk to purchaser

66K Postponement of passing of risk to purchaser

(1) The risk in respect of damage to land shall not pass to the purchaser under a contract for the sale of the land until—

(a) the completion of the sale, or

(b) the time stipulated by the parties to the contract, being a time after the purchaser enters into, or is entitled to enter into, possession of the land,

whichever first occurs.

(2) The reference in subsection (1) to possession of land includes a reference to—

(a) the occupation of the land (whether pursuant to a licence or otherwise) pending completion of the sale of the land, and

(b) the receipt of income from the land.

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66L

Power to rescind contract where land substantially damaged

66L Power to rescind contract where land substantially damaged

(1) Where land is substantially damaged after the making of a contract for the sale of the land and before the risk in respect of the damage passes to the purchaser, the purchaser may rescind the contract by notice in writing served on the vendor before the completion of the sale and—

(a) within 28 days after the purchaser first became aware of the damage, or

(b) within such longer period as may be agreed to by the vendor and purchaser.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) which is served—

(a) by a solicitor or an agent acting for the purchaser, or

(b) on a solicitor or an agent acting for the vendor,

shall be deemed to have been served by the purchaser or on the vendor, as the case may be.

(3) A notice under subsection (1) may be served—

(a) in any manner prescribed by section 170, or

(b) in any manner prescribed by the contract to which it relates for the service of notices under that contract.

(4) Where the purchaser rescinds a contract for the sale of land pursuant to the right conferred by subsection (1)—

(a) all money paid by the purchaser under the contract shall be repaid to the purchaser, and

(b) the vendor and purchaser shall be relieved from all liability under the contract, except a liability arising out of a breach of any term or condition contained or implied in the contract occurring before the date of rescission.

(5) Subsection (4) does not affect any provision in a contract relating to an adjustment between the vendor and purchaser where the purchaser has received the benefit of possession of the land.

(6) A purchaser is not entitled to exercise the right conferred by subsection (1) if the damage was caused by a wilful or negligent act or omission on the part of the purchaser.

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66M

Abatement of purchase price where land damaged

66M Abatement of purchase price where land damaged

(1) Where land is damaged after the making of a contract for the sale of the land and before the risk in respect of the damage passes to the purchaser, the purchase price shall be reduced on completion of the sale by such amount as is just and equitable in the circumstances.

(2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not the land concerned is substantially damaged.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply where the damage was caused by a wilful or negligent act or omission on the part of the purchaser.

(4) If the purchase price is not reduced on completion of the sale of land as required by subsection (1), the amount by which the purchase price should have been reduced may be recovered by the purchaser from the vendor as a debt.

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66N

Refusal to enforce specific performance against vendor

66N Refusal to enforce specific performance against vendor

The Court may, if it thinks that it would be unjust or inequitable to require the vendor to complete the sale of land that is substantially damaged after the making of the contract for the sale of the land and before the risk in respect of the damage passes to the purchaser—

(a) refuse to enforce against the vendor specific performance of the contract,

(b) order the repayment of any money paid by the purchaser under the contract, and

(c) make such other orders as the Court considers appropriate in the circumstances.

pt 4, div 7 (ss 66J–66N): Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2).

66O

Contracting out

66O Contracting out

(1) In this section—

dwelling-house means premises (including a lot under the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015) used, or designed for use, principally as a place of residence, and includes—

(a) outbuildings and other appurtenances to a dwelling-house, and

(b) a dwelling-house which is in the course of construction.

(2) This Division has effect—

(a) in the case of the sale of a dwelling-house—notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary, or

(b) in any other case—subject to any stipulation to the contrary.

s 66O: Ins 1986 No 6, Sch 1 (2). Am 1988 No 131, Sch 29; 1996 No 139, Sch 2.8 [1] (am 1997 No 55, Sch 2.18 [1] [2]); 2015 No 51, Sch 9.5 [4].

Division 8

Sale of residential property

Division 8 Sale of residential property

pt 4, div 8: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3).

66P

Definitions

66P Definitions

(1) In this Division—

agent, in relation to the sale of residential property, includes any agent or representative named in the contract for the sale of the property.

barrister has the same meaning as it has in the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW).

disclosure statement has the meaning given by section 66ZM.

off the plan contract has the same meaning as in Division 10.

option means the following—

(a) an option to purchase residential property,

(b) an option to compel the purchase of residential property.

purchaser includes a prospective purchaser.

residential property has the meaning given by section 66Q.

solicitor has the same meaning as it has in the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), and includes a licensed conveyancer.

vendor includes a prospective vendor.

(2) References in this Division to a particular time are to be construed according to Sydney time.

s 66P: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 1992 No 55, Sch 2; 2009 No 56, Sch 3.2 [1] [2]; 2015 No 7, Sch 2.8; 2018 No 75, Sch 1[8]; 2025 No 48, Sch 3.4[1]; 2025 No 50, Sch 1[5].

66Q

Meaning of “residential property”

66Q Meaning of “residential property”

(1) For the purposes of this Division, residential property is—

(a) land on which are situated (or in the course of construction) not more than two places of residence, and no other improvements, or

(b) vacant land on which the construction of a single place of residence alone is not prohibited by law, or

(c) a lot or lots (including a proposed lot or lots) under the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015, comprising not more than one place of residence alone, whether constructed or in the course of construction, and including any place used or designed for use for a purpose ancillary to the place of residence.

(2) Residential property does not however include—

(a) land or a lot that is used wholly for non-residential purposes, or

(b) land that is more than 2.5 hectares in area (or such other area as may be prescribed).

(3) For the purposes of this section, place of residence means a building or part thereof used, or currently designed for use, as a single dwelling only, and includes outbuildings or other appurtenances incidental to any such use.

s 66Q: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3); 1996 No 139, Sch 2.8 [2] (am 1997 No 55, Sch 2.18 [1] [2]). Am 2015 No 51, Sch 9.5 [5].

66R

Preparation of proposed contract for sale of land

66R Preparation of proposed contract for sale of land

(1) A vendor who, by a written or broadcast advertisement—

(a) indicates that residential property is for sale or is to be auctioned at any future time, or

(b) offers to sell residential property, or

(c) invites an offer to purchase residential property, or

(d) offers to grant an option, or

(e) invites an offer to take an option,

is guilty of an offence unless the required documents are all available for inspection at the same place by any purchaser.

Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the required documents are—

(a) a copy of the proposed contract for the sale of the property (excluding particulars of the purchaser and purchase price), and

(b) the documents required by section 52A to be attached to the contract before signature by the purchaser, and

(c) in the case of an offer or invitation relating to an option—a copy of the proposed option document (excluding particulars of the purchaser and consideration for the option), and

(d) in the case of an off the plan contract—a copy of the proposed disclosure statement.

(3) This section applies to sales by way of private treaty, auction or tender (including tender by post).

s 66R: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2018 No 75, Sch 1[9]; 2025 No 50, Sch 1[6].

66S

Cooling off period

66S Cooling off period

(1) Subject to section 66T, there is to be a cooling off period for every contract for the sale of residential property, during which the purchaser may exercise rights under section 66U.

(2) The cooling off period commences when the contract is made.

(3) The cooling off period ends at 5 pm—

(a) on the tenth business day after the day on which an off the plan contract was made, or

(b) in any other case—on the fifth business day after the day on which the contract was made.

(4) The cooling off period may be extended by a provision in the contract, or by the vendor in writing before the end of the cooling off period.

(5) The cooling off period may be shortened by a provision in the contract, or by a separate written or oral agreement of the parties, but the provision or agreement does not take effect unless and until the purchaser gives to the vendor (or the vendor’s solicitor or agent) a certificate that complies with section 66W.

(6) The extension or shortening of the cooling off period may be effected under subsection (4) or (5) before, at or after the time the contract is made.

(7) The regulations may prescribe the maximum length of time by which the cooling off period for an off the plan contract may be shortened under subsection (5).

s 66S: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2018 No 75, Sch 1[10] [11].

66T

No cooling off period in certain cases

66T No cooling off period in certain cases

There is no cooling off period in relation to a contract for the sale of residential property if—

(a) at or before the time the contract is made, the purchaser gives to the vendor (or the vendor’s solicitor or agent) a certificate that complies with section 66W, or

(b) the property is sold by public auction, or

(c) the contract is made on the same day as the property was offered for sale by public auction but passed in, or

(d) the contract is made in consequence of the exercise of an option, other than an option that is void under section 66ZG.

s 66T: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2025 No 50, Sch 1[7].

66U

Cooling off rights

66U Cooling off rights

(1) The purchaser under a contract for the sale of residential property may serve a written notice to the effect that the purchaser rescinds the contract.

(2) The notice may only be served during the cooling off period, but is ineffective if served after completion.

(3) The notice of rescission must be signed by—

(a) the purchaser or the purchaser’s solicitor, or

(b) if there is more than one purchaser, each of the purchasers or their respective solicitors.

(4) The notice of rescission must be served on—

(a) the vendor or the vendor’s solicitor, or

(b) if there is more than one vendor, any one of the vendors or the solicitor of any of them, or

(c) the agent of the vendor or vendors.

(5) Service of a notice under this section may be effected in accordance with section 170 or at the address of the vendor shown in the contract or in accordance with the service provisions in the contract.

s 66U: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [12].

66V

Consequences of rescission

66V Consequences of rescission

(1) On service of an effective notice of rescission in accordance with section 66U in relation to a contract for the sale of residential property, the contract is to be taken to be rescinded ab initio, but subject to the rights and obligations conferred by this section.

(2) The purchaser forfeits 0.25 per cent of the purchase price of the property to the vendor.

(3) The amount forfeited may be recovered from any deposit paid under the contract.

(4) If the deposit is insufficient, the balance of any amount forfeited may be recovered from the purchaser as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(5) The balance of the deposit remaining after deduction of any amount forfeited is payable to the purchaser.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), neither the vendor nor the purchaser is liable to pay any other sum for damages, costs or expenses.

(7) Either party is entitled to make a claim for—

(a) such compensation, adjustment or accounting as is just and equitable between the vendor and purchaser where the purchaser has received the benefit of possession of the property, or

(b) the payment of damages, costs or expenses arising out of a breach of any term, condition or warranty contained or implied in the contract (other than a term, condition or warranty referred to in section 52A),

but not so as to affect rights and obligations arising under this Division.

(8) The vendor may agree to waive any rights regarding forfeiture under this section.

(9) Duty ceases to be payable on a contract rescinded under this Division, and any duty already paid on it is refundable under the Duties Act 1997.

(10) In this section, deposit includes any amount paid by the purchaser in relation to the contract or on account of the purchase price of residential property.

s 66V: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2013 No 47, Sch 1.10 [1].

66W

Certificates

66W Certificates

(1) A certificate referred to in section 66S or 66T complies with this section if it—

(a) is in writing, and

(b) is signed by a solicitor or barrister, other than—

(i) a solicitor acting for the vendor, or

(ii) any other solicitor employed in the legal practice of a solicitor acting for the vendor, or

(iii) any other solicitor who is a member or employee of a firm of which a solicitor acting for the vendor is a member or employee, and

(c) indicates the purpose for which the certificate is given, and

(d) contains a statement to the effect that the solicitor or barrister explained to the purchaser the effect of the contract, the nature of the certificate and the effect of giving the certificate to the vendor.

(2) If the purchaser is a corporation, the reference in subsection (1)(d) to the purchaser is to be read as a reference to an officer of the corporation or a person involved in the management of its affairs.

(3) A document in the form of a certificate that complies with subsection (1)(c) and (d) and that purports to have been signed by a solicitor or barrister is to be regarded, and may be relied on by the vendor, as a valid certificate for all purposes.

(4) A certificate may be given in a way prescribed by section 170.

s 66W: Ins 1987 No 192, sec 3. Subst 1990 No 21, Sch 1 (3). Am 2018 No 75, Sch 1 [13].

More sections below

Source text: opening excerpt

Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.

Part 1A Preliminary

pt 1A, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.22 [1].

1 Name of Act and commencement

This Act may be cited as the Conveyancing Act 1919 and shall commence and come into operation on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and twenty.

s 1: Am 1984 No 20, Sch 2 (1).

2

2 (Repealed)

2

s 2: Am 1930 No 44, sec 35; 1938 No 30, sec 3 (b); 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1972 No 17, sec 2 (a); 1978 No 61, Sch 1 (1); 1979 No 171, Sch 2 (1); 1983 No 26, Sch 1 (1); 1984 No 20, Schs 1 (1), 2 (2); 1984 No 53, sec 3. Rep 1985 No 231, Sch 3 (1).

3 Repeals

(1) The Acts mentioned in the First Schedule to this Act are to the extent therein expressed hereby repealed.

(2) All rules of court made under the authority of any Act or section hereby repealed and being in force at the commencement of this Act, shall so far as applicable, be deemed to have been made under the authority of this Act.

4 Operation of Act

Any alteration, by this Act, of the law, whether by the repeal of an enactment, or otherwise, shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by this Act, affect—

(a) any right accrued, or obligation incurred, before the commencement of this Act under the law so altered, or

(b) the validity or invalidity, or any operation, effect or consequence, of any instrument executed or made, or of anything done or suffered before the commencement of this Act, or

(c) any action, proceeding or thing then pending or uncompleted; every such action, proceeding and thing may be carried on and completed as if the enactment had not been repealed, or the law otherwise altered.