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You've found the right property and you're ready to sign. What happens next is a sequence of legal and financial steps that have to happen in the right order, by the right dates, for the transfer of ownership to complete cleanly. Miss a date or misread a condition and the contract can unravel, sometimes at significant cost.
In Queensland, conveyancing covers everything from the moment a contract is signed to the day the title is registered in the buyer's name. Since 1 August 2025, sellers must also give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement before a contract is signed, a reform that changed the starting point of every residential sale under the Property Law Act 2023. From 1 July 2026, both buyers' and sellers' solicitors became subject to anti-money laundering obligations for the first time, so identity verification is now a formal step in every transaction, according to AUSTRAC.
Our lawyers in Springfield help clients across Greater Springfield and Ipswich with residential and commercial conveyancing, from first home purchases to investment property transfers and deceased estate sales. Here is how the process generally works in Queensland, and what each stage involves.
Here's what the Queensland conveyancing process involves, step by step, and where legal advice makes the most difference.
Key takeaways
- Queensland sellers must give buyers a disclosure statement before the contract is signed.
- Buyers have five business days to cool off under Queensland's standard residential contract.
- Identity verification is now a required step in every Queensland conveyancing matter.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and you should speak with a solicitor about your own circumstances.
What does the Queensland conveyancing process actually involve?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from one person to another, and in Queensland it can only be carried out by a qualified solicitor or law practice, according to the Legal Services Commission. It begins before the contract is signed and ends only once the new owner's name is registered on the title with Titles Queensland. Between those two points sits a sequence of searches, checks, negotiations and financial steps, each with its own timing requirements.
Queensland's conveyancing process changed materially in the twelve months to October 2026. The seller disclosure scheme commenced 1 August 2025, requiring sellers to provide a signed disclosure statement before a buyer signs. AML/CTF obligations for solicitors and conveyancers commenced 1 July 2026, according to AUSTRAC, meaning identity verification is now a required part of every transaction. And from 1 August 2026, the Queensland Revenue Office requires buyers claiming a home or first home duty concession to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or specified foreign retiree. Competitor content predating these changes is already out of date on all three points.
What does a seller have to give the buyer before contract?
Since 1 August 2025, sellers of existing residential property, commercial property and vacant land must give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement before the buyer signs the contract, according to the Queensland Government. The statement covers the seller's and property's details, registered and unregistered encumbrances, any residential tenancy, zoning and transport infrastructure notices, resumption notices, environmental register listings, any tree orders, heritage listing and pool safety status.
Along with the statement, the seller provides a set of prescribed certificates including a current title search, survey plan, and for a community titles scheme lot, the community management statement and a body corporate certificate.
Where a seller does not give the disclosure documents before the buyer signs, or gives inaccurate or incomplete information that was material and that the buyer would not have signed had they known about, the buyer may be able to terminate the contract at any time up to settlement, according to the Queensland Government. That is a significant remedy, and it underlines why reviewing the disclosure documents before signing is important in every purchase.
What are the time limits and conditions in a standard Queensland contract?
Once both parties have signed the contract, the buyer generally has standard protections built into the printed conditions of the standard Queensland residential contract.
Key conditions and periods:
- › Cooling off: five business days from the day the buyer receives a signed copy of the contract, according to the Queensland Government. The buyer may terminate in writing by 5pm on the fifth day. A penalty of up to 0.25% of the purchase price applies, and the rest of the deposit is refunded within 14 days.
- › Finance condition: if the finance amount, financier and finance date are all completed in the contract, the purchase is conditional on the buyer obtaining loan approval on terms satisfactory to them, and the buyer must take all reasonable steps to obtain it, under the standard Queensland residential contract.
- › Building and pest inspection: if an inspection date is completed in the contract, the buyer must obtain a written building report from a licensed building inspector and a written pest report from a licensed pest inspector, on terms satisfactory to the buyer, under the standard contract. Only a licensed residential building inspector can carry out pre-purchase building inspections, according to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
- › Settlement: typically four to six weeks after the contract is finalised, though most transactions complete within 30 to 90 days, according to the Queensland Government's general description. The exact date is negotiated between the parties and written into the contract.
Time is of the essence under the standard Queensland residential contract, which means dates and times are binding. Either party may extend the settlement date by written notice, but only up to five business days beyond the scheduled date under the standard contract's extension notice term.
How does a solicitor manage the Queensland conveyancing process for a buyer?
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Step 1: Talk to us
Get in touch and we'll explain how the process generally works and what the next steps look like for your purchase or sale.
Step 2: Review the contract and disclosure documents
We review the contract of sale and the seller's disclosure documents before you sign, checking the conditions, settlement date and any encumbrances on the title. For a buyer, we explain what each printed condition means and what happens if one is not met.
Step 3: Conduct searches and manage the conditions
We order title searches through Titles Queensland to confirm the registered owners and any interests on the title, and carry out any other searches relevant to the property. We track the finance and inspection dates, correspond with the other side's solicitor, and manage the AML/CTF identity verification process now required by AUSTRAC. For a buyer claiming a duty concession, we confirm eligibility with the Queensland Revenue Office's requirements before settlement.
Step 4: Settle and register the title
We prepare for an electronic settlement through an approved Electronic Lodgment Network operator, PEXA or Sympli, as required under the Land Title Regulation 2022 per Titles Queensland. On settlement day the balance of the purchase price is paid, the title transfers and Titles Queensland registers the new owner. Most correctly prepared dealings register within three to five working days, according to Titles Queensland.
What mistakes do buyers and sellers commonly make in the Queensland process?
The most common issue is missing a condition date. Under the standard Queensland residential contract, time is of the essence, which means a finance or inspection date that passes without a notice from the buyer gives the seller the right to terminate. The contract's own terms govern what notice is required and by when, and a solicitor tracks these dates as part of the engagement.
A second frequent misunderstanding is that settlement and transfer duty have different timing rules. Documents are generally lodged with the Queensland Revenue Office within 30 days of the date the liability arises, usually the contract date, not the settlement date. Where a solicitor registered as a self assessor lodges online, the duty must be paid within 14 days after lodgement, according to the Queensland Revenue Office. Late lodgement or late payment can delay settlement.
When does eConveyancing apply and what does it mean for buyers and sellers?
From 20 February 2023, most property instruments in Queensland must be lodged electronically through an Electronic Lodgment Network, under the Land Title Regulation 2022, according to Titles Queensland. The two approved operators are PEXA and Sympli. Required instruments include transfers, mortgages, releases of mortgage and caveats. A buyer or seller does not subscribe to these platforms directly; their solicitor does. An unrepresented individual who is not a subscriber may still lodge in paper under an exemption.
Electronic settlement means that funds move and documents lodge simultaneously, reducing the risk of a settlement that fails because paperwork and money arrive out of step. For buyers and sellers in Springfield and Ipswich it also means the physical attendance at a settlement table is no longer part of the process.
"Queensland's conveyancing process has changed three times in the past twelve months. Getting the disclosure documents right before signing, verifying identity and confirming duty eligibility are now all part of a standard transaction."
Jade Kickbusch, Principal, Brookwater Legal
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Queensland conveyancing process take?
Settlement typically occurs four to six weeks after the contract is finalised, and most transactions complete within 30 to 90 days, according to the Queensland Government. The exact date is negotiated between the parties and set in the contract.
What is the cooling off period in a Queensland residential property contract?
Five business days from the day the buyer receives a signed copy of the contract, according to the Queensland Government. The buyer must give written notice to the seller by 5pm on the fifth day, and a penalty of up to 0.25% of the purchase price applies. There is no cooling off period at auction.
What does a seller have to disclose before a Queensland property contract is signed?
Since 1 August 2025, sellers must give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs, according to the Queensland Government. These cover title details, encumbrances, tenancies, zoning, pool safety and, for a body corporate lot, the community management statement and a body corporate certificate.
When does transfer duty have to be paid in Queensland?
Documents are generally lodged with the Queensland Revenue Office within 30 days of the contract date, not the settlement date. Where a solicitor lodges online as a registered self assessor, the duty must be paid within 14 days after that. Late lodgement or payment can delay settlement.
Does eConveyancing apply to all property transactions in QLD?
From 20 February 2023, industry professionals and corporate entities must lodge required instruments electronically through an Electronic Lodgment Network operator, PEXA or Sympli, unless an exemption applies, according to Titles Queensland. An unrepresented individual may still lodge in paper under the unrepresented-party exemption.
Do you need a conveyancing solicitor in Springfield or Ipswich QLD?
Conveyancing in Queensland can only be carried out by a qualified solicitor or law practice, according to the Legal Services Commission. A solicitor tracks condition dates, manages identity verification, confirms duty eligibility and handles the electronic settlement. Our conveyancing team acts for buyers and sellers across Greater Springfield and Ipswich.
What identity checks are now required in a Queensland property transaction?
From 1 July 2026, solicitors and conveyancers became subject to AML/CTF obligations, according to AUSTRAC, which means identity verification is now a required step before a designated service is provided. Buyers and sellers can expect to provide identity documents as part of the engagement process.
Your Next Steps
Getting the conveyancing process right in Queensland matters more now than it did a year ago. Three significant changes, seller disclosure, electronic identity verification and updated duty eligibility rules, mean that transactions in Springfield, Ipswich and across Greater Springfield involve more moving parts than many buyers and sellers expect. Understanding where each step sits, and what happens if one is missed, is the clearest reason to have a solicitor managing the process from the start.
Every conveyancing matter is different, and that's exactly why it's worth a conversation. Make an appointment with the Brookwater Legal team or call (07) 3437 8555.
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External Resources
Brookwater Legal · This article contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. You should obtain legal advice about your own situation before acting on anything in this article. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
