Leases | By Lawyers
Skip to main content

Leases

VIC

This publication guides practitioners through the negotiation and drafting of leases in Victoria, including provisions for subleasing, assignment, and termination.

4 Matter Plans

Overview

The Leases commentaries cover the key practical issues of leasing, including negotiation, drafting, registration, renewals, assignments, subleases, termination, common disputes, and remedies.

The Retirement Villages commentary covers standard contracts and mandatory documents, duties, taxes and rates, commencing and ending a residency, and dispute resolution.

The Reference materials folder includes guidance on electronic signing and remote witnessing, and the Getting the matter underway folder contains essential compliance and client engagement documents. The comprehensive Retainer Instructions ensure that all necessary information is gathered from the client at the outset of the matter.

Also included is 1001 Conveyancing Answers (VIC), which is a useful reference guide.

Precedents in this publication include:

  • Agreements to lease;
  • Deeds of lease;
  • Library of additional clauses for the lease;
  • Library of notices for various situations;
  • Deeds of variation, amendment and assignment.
Icon

4 Matter Plans Included

  • Item icon ALERTS - Nil
  • Item icon Full Commentary - Leases (VIC) - Acting for the Lessor
  • Folder icon Reference materials
    • Item icon AI Prompts
      An AI prompt defines a specific task for AI to perform, like drafting a particular document, and provides clear instructions on how to execute that task. The goal is for the AI to quickly create a useful first draft of a document, which the user verifies and refines into a final version, ultimately ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon Looking to the Future
    • Item icon Electronic Signing and Witnessing
    • Item icon 1001 Conveyancing Answers (VIC)
    • Item icon 101 Costs Answers
    • Item icon A Brief Explanation of the Transition to E-Conveyancing
    • Folder icon Papers and articles - Conveyancing and property
      • Item icon Plain language – A paper by the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
      • Item icon Adjustment for cladding agreements
      • Item icon Adjustment of rates
      • Item icon Adjustment of rent
      • Item icon Adjustments
      • Item icon Adjustments and land tax in 2024
      • Item icon Agreement to lease
      • Item icon Avoiding off the plan - Quality defects
      • Item icon Avoiding off the plan - Statutory rights
      • Item icon Avoiding off the plan contracts - A sequel
      • Item icon Bits and pieces
      • Item icon Breach of contract - Penalty interest
      • Item icon Breach of contract – Reasonably foreseeable loss
      • Item icon Breach of section 32
      • Item icon Caveats (Vic)
      • Item icon Caveats - Forcible removal 1
      • Item icon Caveats - Forcible removal 2
      • Item icon Caveats - Insufficient proceeds from settlement
      • Item icon Caveats - Tenant’s caveats and the sale or mortgaging of freehold property
      • Item icon Caveats - Use them!
      • Item icon Costs and caveats
      • Item icon Certificates of title in electronic conveyancing
      • Item icon Clayton's settlement
      • Item icon Compensation for loss
      • Item icon Contamination
      • Item icon Contract – Australian Consumer Law – Impact on residential conveyancing
      • Item icon Contract - Avoiding off the plan contracts 1
      • Item icon Contract - Avoiding off the plan contracts 2
      • Item icon Contract - Changing the contract by special condition
      • Item icon Contract - Electronic conveyancing special condition
      • Item icon Contract - Electronic signatures
      • Item icon Contract - Entire contract
      • Item icon Contract - Guarantee
      • Item icon Contract - Is there a contract?
      • Item icon Contract - Misleading contracts
      • Item icon Contract - New contract
      • Item icon Contract - New contract - Contract of sale tweaked
      • Item icon Contract - New contract - Happy anniversary
      • Item icon Contract - New special conditions for contract of sale
      • Item icon Contract - Nomination
      • Item icon Contract - Terms contracts 1
      • Item icon Contract - Terms contracts 2
      • Item icon Contract - Terms contracts 3
      • Item icon Contract - Trust transactions
      • Item icon Cooling off
      • Item icon Co-owners - Joint tenancy or tenancy in common
      • Item icon Co-owners and easements – Two topics
      • Item icon Covenant - Removal of covenants 1
      • Item icon Covenant - Removal of covenants 2
      • Item icon Defects - Essential safety measures - Part 1
      • Item icon Defects - Essential safety measures - Part 2
      • Item icon Defects - Occupancy and insurance certificates
      • Item icon Deposit - Deposit release - 2010
      • Item icon Deposit - Deposit release - 2017
      • Item icon Deposit - Deposit release - A solution?
      • Item icon Deposit - Deposit release - Tough decisions?
      • Item icon Deposit - Deposit release - Why take the risk?
      • Item icon Deposit - Forfeiture of deposit
      • Item icon De-regulated Contract of Sale of Land
      • Item icon Deterioration - A matter of degree
      • Item icon Deterioration - General condition 24 has teeth
      • Item icon Deterioration - State of the premises
      • Item icon Disclosure of death
      • Item icon Estate agent - Agent beware
      • Item icon Estate agent’s commission – Money for nothing
      • Item icon Foreign residents capital gains tax withholding
      • Item icon GST - GST and mistake
      • Item icon GST - Margin scheme
      • Item icon GST withholding
      • Item icon Inadvertent disclosure
      • Item icon Inspection - Right to inspect
      • Item icon Land tax - Part 1
      • Item icon Land tax - Part 2
      • Item icon Land transfer duty benefits
      • Item icon Lease - Abandoned goods
      • Item icon Lease - Landlords beware
      • Item icon Lease - Retail lease
      • Item icon Lease - Retail lease - Predominant use
      • Item icon Lease - Retail lease cost
      • Item icon Lost trust deeds
      • Item icon Material facts
      • Item icon Measurements
      • Item icon Mortgage stress
      • Item icon Nomination
      • Item icon Nomination and the Australian Consumer Law
      • Item icon Nomination disputes
      • Item icon Notice of action
      • Item icon Notices - Liability for notices
      • Item icon Off the plan duty concessions
      • Item icon Owner-builder insurance
      • Item icon Owner-builders
      • Item icon Owners corporations
      • Item icon Personal Property Securities Act
      • Item icon Planning certificates - Accuracy
      • Item icon Power of attorney
      • Item icon Priority notice
      • Item icon Property - Rules and undertakings
      • Item icon Rescission - Consequences of rescission 1
      • Item icon Rescission - Consequences of rescission 2
      • Item icon Rescission - Costs on rescission
      • Item icon Retail lease outgoings
      • Item icon Retail premises
      • Item icon Retail repairs
      • Item icon Retail repairs revisited
      • Item icon Sale of land amendments
      • Item icon Scary short-stays
      • Item icon Self managed superannuation funds
      • Item icon Septic situation
      • Item icon Sheriff - Enforcement procedure
      • Item icon Sheriff's sale - Part 1
      • Item icon Sheriff's sale - Part 2
      • Item icon Solicitor - Lawyers selling real estate
      • Item icon Solicitor – Executor’s commission 1 – Horns of a dilemma
      • Item icon Solicitor - Executor's commission 2 - A fiduciary duty
      • Item icon Solicitor – Liability for commercial advice
      • Item icon Stamp duty concessions
      • Item icon Subdivision - Off the plan sales
      • Item icon Subdivision - Off the plan sales - Best endeavours - Part 1
      • Item icon Subdivision - Off the plan sales - Best endeavours - Part 2
      • Item icon Subdivision - Off the plan sales - Materially affects
      • Item icon Subdivision - Off the plan sales - Sunset conditions
      • Item icon Subdivision - Owners corporation certificates
      • Item icon Subdivision - Owners corporation repairs
      • Item icon Subdivision - Owners corporations
      • Item icon Subject to contract
      • Item icon Sunset clause – Vendor ending a contract – Purchaser’s consent or court order required
      • Item icon Time of the essence
      • Item icon To be or not to Airbnb
      • Item icon Trade practices – Fair trading in property transactions
      • Item icon Vendor statement - Aboriginal Heritage Act
      • Item icon Vendor statement - Breach of section 32
      • Item icon Vendor statement - Growth areas infrastructure contribution
      • Item icon Vendor statement - Honest and reasonable
      • Item icon Vendor statement and leases
      • Item icon Vendor statement review
      • Item icon Vendor statements and the Australian Consumer Law
      • Item icon Vendor's duty to co-operate
      • Item icon Wills and estates - Death in the house
    • Item icon Further information
  • Item icon Overview
    The owner of real estate may create a lesser estate in their property by the grant of a leasehold interest giving the right to the lessee to use and enjoy the property to the exclusion of the entire world, including the owner. The leasehold estate is subject to the reversionary interest of the ...

    This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

  • Folder icon A. Getting the matter underway
    • Item icon File cover sheet - Leases
    • Item icon To do list - Leases
    • Item icon First steps
    • Item icon Client details and verifying identity
    • Item icon Verification of identity in electronic conveyancing transactions
    • Folder icon Library of identity and authorisation forms - VIC
      • Item icon Verification of identity certificate
      • Item icon Client authorisation
      • Item icon Identifier declaration
      • Item icon Identity agent certification
      • Item icon Australian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate certification form
    • Item icon Retainer instructions - Leases
    • Item icon Conflict of interest check
    • Item icon Initial letter to lessor with costs disclosure
    • Item icon Costs agreement - VIC
    • Item icon Scope of work - Leases - Acting for the lessor
    • Item icon Standard costs disclosure form for clients - Fees under $3000
    • Item icon Conveyancers costs disclosure - VIC
    • Item icon Time and costs estimates
    • Folder icon If required - Updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Letter to client updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Charge securing costs
      • Item icon Guarantee securing costs
      • Folder icon Costs disclosure before settlement in litigation matters
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - NSW, VIC, and WA
        • Item icon Letter to client - Costs disclosure before settlement - QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT
    • Folder icon If required - Agent
      • Item icon Initial letter to agent
    • Folder icon General deeds, agreements, execution clauses, and statutory declarations
      • Item icon Deeds and Agreements
      • Folder icon Deeds
        • Item icon Deed for general use
        • Item icon Deed of guarantee
        • Item icon Deed of release
        • Item icon General deed of indemnity
        • Item icon Deed of assignment of agreement
        • Item icon Deed of gift
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of deed - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Agreements
        • Item icon Agreement for general use
        • Item icon Heads of agreement
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Formal
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Informal
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Amendment
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs
          • Item icon Counterparts
          • Item icon Dispute resolution
          • Item icon Events beyond control
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction
          • Item icon Interpretation
          • Item icon No assignment
          • Item icon Notices
          • Item icon Severance
          • Item icon Waiver
          • Item icon Whole agreement
      • Folder icon Execution clauses
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
          • Item icon Individual - No witness
        • Folder icon Library of execution clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Attorney
          • Item icon Authorised officer
          • Item icon Company
          • Item icon Company - Sole director
          • Item icon Individual
      • Folder icon Statutory declarations
        • Item icon Commonwealth statutory declaration
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - ACT
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NSW
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - VIC
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - QLD
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - TAS
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - SA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - WA
        • Item icon Statutory declaration - blank - NT
        • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
      • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
  • Folder icon B. If required - Disclosure statements
    • Item icon Disclosure statements
      Building industry energy efficiency The Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010 (Cth) imposes disclosure obligations in respect of buildings exceeding 1,000 square metres but does not affect the enforceability of the lease.

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon By Lawyers retail lease and disclosure statement
      By Lawyers have produced a document that combines the Retail Lease with the Disclosure Statement. This document is intended for use in relation to retail premises that are not located in a retail shopping centre and is ideal for use by a small landlord.

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

  • Folder icon C. If required - Agreement to lease
    • Item icon Agreement to lease
      As equity has shown itself prepared to enforce an agreement to lease, it is often said that an agreement to lease is as enforceable as a lease. This concept has been merged with modern legal concepts to establish the principle that, where it would be unconscionable for either party to resile from ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

  • Folder icon D. The lease
    • Item icon By Lawyers retail lease and disclosure statement
      By Lawyers have produced a document that combines the Retail Lease with the Disclosure Statement. This document is intended for use in relation to retail premises that are not located in a retail shopping centre and is ideal for use by a small landlord.

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon The components of a lease
      Defining premises Incorrectly defining or describing the premises may give the lessee a right to damages: Foong & Leong v Great Union Pty Ltd [2001] VCAT 1540.

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon Lease - Retail - Incorporating disclosure statement for non-shopping centre retail premises
    • Item icon Summary - By Lawyers lease - Retail
    • Item icon Lease - Commercial or industrial
    • Item icon Lease - Rural
    • Folder icon Library of clauses
      • Item icon Covenants protecting lessors and mortgagees clause
      • Item icon Demolition and relocation clause
      • Item icon Disclosure statement additional clauses
      • Item icon First right of refusal clause
      • Item icon Liquor licence - Application clause
      • Item icon Liquor licence - Lessor's consent clause
      • Item icon Liquor licence - Transfer clause
      • Item icon Option to purchase clause
      • Item icon Turnover rent clause
    • Folder icon Other leases and agreements
      • Item icon Deed of lease of business
      • Item icon Car parking licence agreement
      • Item icon Medical centre licence agreement
      • Item icon Short licence agreement of business and premises
      • Item icon 99 year licence of common property
    • Item icon Letter to client with draft lease and general advice
    • Item icon Enclosure - Advice to parties reviewing a lease
    • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor submitting lease
    • Item icon Letter to lessee acting for self submitting lease
    • Item icon Letter to lessor with leases to sign
  • Folder icon E. If required - Sublease, transfer and surrender
    • Item icon Change of parties
      A lease is fundamentally a contract and the normal rules of privity of contract apply. But a lease also relates to real estate, and property law has traditionally affected more than just the parties to the contract. Rights arising from property law may therefore result in the lease affecting more ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Folder icon Sublease
      • Item icon Sublease - Retail - Incorporating disclosure statement for non-shopping centre retail premises
      • Item icon Sublease - Commercial industrial
      • Item icon Sublease - Rural
    • Folder icon Transfer
      • Item icon Transfer/Assignment – Retail leases
        The Retail Leases Act 2003 provides that an assignment is a continuation of the old lease. A lease that commenced prior to 1 May 2003 will come under the Retail Leases Act 2003 if renewed after 1 May 2003, but not if merely assigned after that date. See s 8 and Saratoga ...

        This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

      • Item icon Disclosure statement for assignment of a lease with an ongoing business
      • Item icon Transfer of lease
      • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor submitting transfer of lease
    • Folder icon Surrender
      • Item icon Surrender of lease
        Surrender by agreement The parties may agree, or be deemed to have agreed, to terminate the lease by the lessee surrendering, and the lessor accepting.

        This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

      • Item icon Surrender of lease
      • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor submitting surrender
  • Folder icon F. If required - CPI, variation and renewal
    • Item icon Letter to lessee for CPI rent increase
    • Folder icon Variation
      • Item icon Variation of lease
      • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor submitting variation
      • Item icon Deed of amendment - Unregistered lease
      • Item icon Deed of variation of lease - Deferral of rental payments
      • Item icon Deed of variation of lease - Deferral of rental payments during COVID-19
    • Folder icon Renewal
      • Item icon Disclosure statement for renewal of a lease
      • Item icon Renewal of lease
      • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor submitting renewal
  • Folder icon G. If required - Notices, disputes, interference, breach and forfeiture
    • Item icon Disputes, interference, breach, and forfeiture
      Disputes Disputes commonly arise in shopping centres in relation to relocation, exclusivity, fit out requirements, turnover rental, promotion funds, and signage.

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Folder icon Library of notices
      • Item icon Notice of exercise of option
      • Item icon Notice to remedy breach of lease
      • Item icon Notice of termination of periodic tenancy
      • Item icon Notice of termination and to quit
      • Item icon Demolition notice
      • Item icon Termination notice following demolition notice
      • Item icon Relocation notice
      • Item icon Termination notice following relocation notice
  • Folder icon H. If required - Mortgagee
    • Item icon Consent of mortgagee to lease
      Unless the proposed lessee ensures that the mortgagee of the freehold consents to the lease, the lessee will be liable to lose possession of the premises if the lessor defaults under the mortgage and the mortgagee wants to take possession. The prior-in-time interest of the mortgagee will defeat the ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon Letter to mortgagee for consent and production
  • Folder icon I. Finalising the matter
    • Item icon Costs and duty
      Generally It is normal for the lessor to arrange for preparation of the lease. As a result, it is normal for the lease to provide that the lessee will be responsible to pay the lessor’s legal costs. However, these provisions are negotiable in all circumstances and are prohibited by statute in ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Folder icon If required - Registration of lease
      • Item icon Registration of lease
        Leases for a term exceeding three years may be registered pursuant to s 66 of the Transfer of Land Act 1958 to protect the interest of the lessee. The registered copy of the lease is in effect the title of the lessee to its estate and interest in the land. However, the interest of a ...

        This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

      • Item icon Verification of identity certificate
      • Item icon Land Use Victoria - Forms
    • Item icon Original lease
      Written leases are traditionally prepared in duplicate so that both lessor and lessee will have a copy for their records. The lease is the basis of the lessee’s right to possess the property and is the lessee’s title. The lessor is entitled to retain the title to the land to prove ownership, and ...

      This excerpt is a preview of the full publication. You can Subscribe Now and gain immediate access to the complete publication.

    • Item icon Letter to lessee's solicitor sending original lease
    • Item icon Letter to lessor enclosing a copy of the lease and finalising the matter
    • Item icon Example invoice incorporating notification of client's rights - VIC
    • Item icon Invoice recital - Leases
    • Item icon Closing the file
    • Item icon File closing checklist
  • Item icon Comments and suggestions for By Lawyers

Our Authors

A team of legal professionals contribute to By Lawyers' publications, all helping to ensure that content is updated regularly to reflect changes in legislation, practice, and procedure.

Meet Our Authors
Authors