Legal
Property law by state
Each state and territory has its own rules for what a seller must disclose and whether a buyer can cool off after signing. This is general information, not legal advice — your conveyancer or solicitor will confirm what applies to your sale.
Victoria
- Seller disclosure
- Vendor's Statement (Section 32)
- Legislation
- Sale of Land Act 1962 (Vic), section 32
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 3 clear business days after signing a private-sale contract to cool off (not at or shortly after an auction).
New South Wales
- Seller disclosure
- Contract for Sale of Land with prescribed vendor disclosure documents
- Legislation
- Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) and Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022 (NSW)
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 5 business days after exchange to cool off, forfeiting 0.25% of the price if they withdraw (no cooling-off at auction).
Queensland
- Seller disclosure
- Seller Disclosure Statement (Form 2)
- Legislation
- Property Law Act 2023 (Qld)
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 5 business days after receiving the signed contract to cool off, forfeiting 0.25% of the price if they withdraw (no cooling-off at auction).
Western Australia
- Seller disclosure
- Contract of Sale with seller disclosures
- Legislation
- Sale of Land Act 1970 (WA) and Transfer of Land Act 1893 (WA)
- Cooling-off
- There is no statutory cooling-off period in Western Australia; once a contract is signed it is generally binding unless the contract itself says otherwise.
South Australia
- Seller disclosure
- Vendor's Statement (Form 1)
- Legislation
- Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994 (SA), section 7
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 2 clear business days after being served the Form 1 (or after the contract is made, if later) to cool off (not at auction).
Australian Capital Territory
- Seller disclosure
- Contract for Sale with required documents (including the building and compliance inspection report and energy efficiency rating)
- Legislation
- Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 (ACT)
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 5 business days after exchange to cool off, forfeiting 0.25% of the price if they withdraw (no cooling-off at auction).
Tasmania
- Seller disclosure
- Contract for Sale (no mandatory vendor statement)
- Legislation
- Conveyancing and Law of Property Act 1884 (Tas) and Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016 (Tas)
- Cooling-off
- There is no statutory cooling-off period in Tasmania; a signed contract is generally binding unless it includes a cooling-off clause.
Northern Territory
- Seller disclosure
- Contract for Sale (no mandatory vendor statement)
- Legislation
- Law of Property Act 2000 (NT)
- Cooling-off
- Buyers generally have 4 business days after the contract is made to cool off (not at auction).
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