Queensland’s New Seller Disclosure Laws: What You Need to Know Before Selling Property

What’s Changing (from 1 August 2025)?

Queensland’s long-standing “buyer beware” policy is officially history. Under the Property Law Act 2023 (Qld), kicking in 1 August 2025, sellers must provide a Form 2 Seller Disclosure Statement plus a stack of prescribed certificates before the buyer signs the contract.

This applies to:

• Residential properties (houses, townhouses, units)
• Commercial properties
• Vacant land

…unless you fall into one of the few exceptions. Think waivers for related parties, purchases over $10 million, government bodies, or transfers between co-owners.

What Sellers Must Disclose and When

Before contract signing, sellers (or authorised agents) must deliver:

1. Form 2 – Seller Disclosure Statement

A signed, standardised statement with prescribed information that must be true at the moment it’s handed over. It covers:

• Seller and property details (address, lot/plan)
• Title details and all encumbrances (registered and unregistered)
• Zoning, planning, heritage listings, transport‑infrastructure notices
• Environmental flags (contamination, registered trees/disputes, heritage)
• Building and construction warnings (pools, owner‑builder works, enforcement notices)
• Rates and water charges, community‑scheme info (if applicable)

2. Prescribed Certificates

These need to be current and may include:

• Title search and survey plan
• Body corporate certificate and community management statement (for strata/property schemes)
• Pool safety certificate or notice of non‑compliance
• Notices under Building, Planning, Environmental Protection Acts
• Any relevant owner‑builder, show‑cause or enforcement notices

Why Sellers (and Agents) Should Jump on This Now

• Transparency is the new norm, no more hiding a shady easement or transport‑next‑door until contract breach.
• Hidden gotchas cost money: failure to comply or worst, slip-ups or missing docs, allows the buyer to terminate at any time before settlement.
• It’s going to cost: obtaining body corporate certificates alone could set sellers back over $200, even though fees are pegged at around $84.
• Time is money: preparing and collating documents takes time. Starting early means you avoid rush‑job mistakes (and spooked buyers).

How NSW & VIC Compare (Quick Snapshot)

• In NSW, sellers traditionally attach a Section 149 certificate with a handful of documents (plans, easements, strata info) to the contract.
• In VIC, a Section 32 statement (vendor statement) covers title details, building permits (last 7 years), insurance, encumbrances, planning, and strata info.
• QLD’s new regime puts Queensland on par with NSW and VIC, mandatory, standardised, and front-loaded disclosure to ensure buyers aren’t blindsided.

Quick Table: QLD Seller Disclosure at a Glance