Leases for Crown land are bought and sold similarly to freehold property. However, when you purchase a lease, you are buying the improvements on the leased land and the right to lease the land from the state.
The Purchasing Crown leasehold land to obtain freehold title policy (PDF, 553 KB) outlines the framework for us to assess and determine applications to purchase a lease.
If you wish to object to the purchase price for Crown leasehold land, you can find more information in the objection to purchase price when purchasing Crown leasehold land policy (PDF, 288 KB).
For further details on purchasing a lease, refer to the purchasing Crown leasehold land to obtain freehold title guideline (PDF, 377 KB).
Steps to buy a lease
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Check eligibility
Ensure you meet the criteria to buy a Crown land lease.
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Submit application
Complete the online application form and provide all necessary documents.
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Assessment
We will assess your application.
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Approval
If approved, you will receive an offer to purchase the lease.
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Payment
Pay the required fees as invoiced.
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Finalisation
Once payment is received, the lease transfer will be finalised.
Western lands leaseholders
The Crown Land Management Act 2016 (the CLM Act) allows eligible leaseholders to purchase their western lands lease, which will convert the title to freehold.
Find out more about purchasing western lands leases.
Incomplete purchases
An incomplete purchase is a tenure describing a former lease from us that is in the process of being purchased.
Payment of purchase price
While the land remains as an incomplete purchase it will have notations on the certificate of title that record our interest in the land. These notations relate to the requirement for payment of the balance of purchase and other monies, forfeiture provisions, and restrictions on subdivision.
Extra payments may also be made at any time during the term of the purchase and there are no penalties for paying out the incomplete purchase early. Purchasers may also consider pursuing external finance arrangements.
Transfer of an incomplete purchase
Where an incomplete purchase is transferred with monies still owing, the Crown Land Management Act 2016 requires all outstanding monies to be paid in full within three months of the registration of the transfer.
Affected parties may request an exception, using the criteria listed below. If approval is given using this exception, the new owner can continue with the existing payment structure.
- a devise under a will
- the taking of an interest under an intestacy
- survivorship of a joint tenant
- a discharge of mortgage
- a transfer to the Official Trustee in Bankruptcy
- a transfer by order of the Family Court or under a provision of the Family Law Act 1975 the Commonwealth (except a transfer to a person who is not a party to, or a child of, the marriage)
- a transfer by order of any other court (except a transfer effected under a writ of execution) if the minister has directed that this clause is not to apply to the transfer.
Fees
We will send you an invoice for any fees after we receive your application.