In brief - Plan registration fees to increase significantly
A completely new way of charging fees has been introduced by Land and Property Information (LPI) effective from 1 July 2016. The significant and greatly increased fees on plan registration and requisitions on plans and dealings will need to be factored into project feasibilities and cashflows.
Significant fees increase for deposited plans, strata plans and community plans
LPI has sought to remove the complexity of significantly different rates of fees for different levels of transactions. However, in the main, the fees have increased in most instances.
The major change is with respect to plan registration.
No longer will there be a fixed fee with a small fee per lot but a much more significant fee of $287 for each lot for deposited plans and strata plans and $615 for each lot in community plans.
For pre-examination of deposited plans or strata plans, the fee has been significantly increased. It is $473.50 per lot and you do not get a credit for this when you actually lodge the final plan for registration. For community plans, the fee is $1,014.70 per lot.
Requisition fees on plans and dealings to be deferred until 1 January 2017
LPI also intends to charge fees for requisitions on plans and dealings. However, LPI will defer the application of these requisition fees until 1 January 2017 to give lodging parties time to prepare for the new regime.
These fees will be $50 for each requisition letter for a dealing and $100 for each requisition letter for plans. To avoid these additional fees, obviously parties must ensure that everything is, as far as possible, correct at the time of lodgement, but this should at least expedite LPI dealing with and registering documents lodged.
Chris Rumore
Property acquisition, development and sale
Colin Biggers & Paisley
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