Strata Property Transfers

The strata property transfer process step by step

A strata transfer follows the same process as landed property, but two extra parties can slow it down: the management body, and the developer where the strata title has not issued yet.

The maintenance account statement for a strata property transfer

Before a transfer you need a statement from the management body confirming whether maintenance charges and sinking fund contributions stand in arrears. Large arrears discovered in the final week are what turn completion into a pressured negotiation.

We ask for the statement early so you know the figure before anyone fixes the completion date.

A strata property transfer where the title has not issued

For projects where individual strata titles have not issued yet, the transaction runs through a deed of assignment with the developer’s consent. This is not unusual, but the documents, steps and costs differ from a direct transfer.

Developers normally charge an administrative fee, and their approval time has to be built into the completion period.

If the developer no longer operates, the route becomes longer. This should be checked before the sale and purchase agreement is signed, not after.

Once the strata title finally issues, a further step is needed to register the current owner’s name. Many owners only discover this step when they come to sell.

A strata property transfer after the title issues

When the strata title is finally issued, an owner who bought earlier has to perfect the transfer into their own name, and if the unit is charged, the charge is perfected at the same time. Many owners leave it until they want to sell, at which point it delays the sale.

The management body’s supporting letter

A strata property transfer needs confirmation from the management body that maintenance charges and the sinking fund are paid up. Without that letter registration cannot proceed.

Request the account statement early rather than in the week of completion. A management body run part-time can take weeks to issue a statement, and any arrears found have to be cleared before the letter is released.

Check as well whether a special levy has been approved but not yet billed. Buyers who skip this sometimes receive a large bill a few months after moving in.

Costs to plan for

Beyond legal fees and transfer stamp duty, a strata transfer involves the management body’s administrative fee, and for projects without strata titles, the developer’s consent fee.

Arrears of maintenance charges have to be cleared before the supporting letter is issued. For a property that has stood empty for a long time, those arrears are sometimes far larger than the seller expects.

Check too whether a special levy has been approved at a general meeting but not yet billed. A buyer who inherits that levy usually does not know about it until the bill arrives.

If you are still weighing which route applies to your transfer, start with the title transfer process, by reason.

What your lawyer handles

• Official search of the strata title and review of restrictions
• Obtaining the maintenance and sinking fund account statement
• Dealing with the management body for the confirmations required
• Obtaining developer consent where the strata title has not issued yet
• Preparing the transfer documents and attending to stamping
• Registering the transfer at the land office

Documents you need to prepare

• Copies of the buyer's and seller's identity cards
• Copy of the strata title, or the original agreement where no title has issued
• A current maintenance account statement
• Assessment and quit rent receipts
• Loan offer letter if you are financing the purchase

Costs people often overlook

• Legal fees under the Solicitors Remuneration Order 2023
• Transfer stamp duty
• Land office registration fees
• Arrears of maintenance charges you must clear
• Service tax of 8% on legal fees

When to stop and get advice first

Frequently asked questions about strata property transfer