Purchasing your Western lands lease to obtain freehold title allows you to convert your leasehold land into freehold land. Benefits of purchasing your lease may include holding freehold title to your land, which means you own the land outright and have the highest title right in NSW. You will no longer be required to pay an annual rent to Crown Lands, and certain activities, such as selling the land, will no longer require the consent of the Minister.
Eligibility criteria
Holders of residential, business, and some agricultural Western lands leases have the right to apply to purchase their lease and convert it from a leasehold interest to freehold title.
Holders of rural Western lands leases that have a land and soil capability classification that supports agricultural production, or are within 20 km of an urban area where conversion will contribute to the economic growth of the region or where conversion is required for urban expansion, may also be eligible to apply.
Contact us to check eligibility for your lease before applying if you are unsure.
Leases that cannot be purchased
Most holders of residential Western lands leases granted in lieu of residential mineral claims at Lightning Ridge and on the surrounding opal fields will not be able to purchase their lease. Additionally, any leases that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the legislation will not be eligible for purchase.
Payment options
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Option 1
Payment of the full purchase price within 28 days of issue of the tax invoice.
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Option 2
Payment of the full purchase price by instalments can be established through an Incomplete Purchase. An Incomplete Purchase will be established for a period up to 20 years. Each year, a minimum instalment will be payable for each Incomplete Purchase. If the purchase price is less than the annual minimum instalment, then the purchase price must be paid in full within 28 days of issue of the tax invoice.
Voluntary purchase
The decision to purchase your lease is voluntary and entirely up to you. If you choose not to purchase your lease, it will continue to be administered in the same way.
Additional considerations
When processing your application, we will also consider public rights of legal access through your lease, Crown timber rights, reserves such as travelling stock reserves and trig reserves, and other parties' uses of your lease, such as pumps and/or pipelines, extractive industries, rights of way, or tracks which provide access to other lands.
If you sell your property before your purchase application is approved, your application can be transferred to the new leaseholder if they decide they want to proceed with the purchase.
Fees
We will send you an invoice for any fees after we receive your application. Once you pay the application fee, we will process your application.