If you have ever treated family and friends to a pizza night, you’ll know that having the right portions and toppings to share can be complex.
And while these ‘complexities’ are trifling compared to the process of land subdivision, they do give us a taste of what’s in store.

Choice of Subdivision

Firstly, deciding who wants to share toppings and who needs a strict ‘half and half’ pizza is similar to the first decision you will face when subdividing your land; deciding which type of subdivision you will use.
Torrens Title subdivision is where you divide one allotment into two or more separate Torrens Titles.
This approach gives the owner complete ownership of their land, which means there will be no common property and no corporation rules and regulations to follow.
Community subdivision is where you divide one allotment into two or more separate Community Titles.
This approach means some common land is shared by the owners within a community corporation.

Do you have permission?

The next insight from the world of pizza sharing revolves around how finicky you can be about dividing toppings and getting the mix just right.
In most pizzerias, the management will step in if you are wanting too much or being unrealistic in your demands.
Likewise, with your land subdivision, the local council will have a say in whether your project meets their requirements.
So once you have decided how you would like to subdivide your property, the next step is to ask the local council whether it will be allowed and to check what minimum block sizes you need to achieve.
This information should be available on their website but it is prudent to call to find out.
Another third party crucial to this process is a surveyor.
We recommend you engage a surveyor to begin the division process and contact the various state and council departments.
This is where our team can help by putting you in touch with surveyors in your area.

Option upon option upon option

And finally, while the humble act of splitting a pizza can become quite daunting with dozens of traditional and gourmet toppings to choose from, along with the increasing diversity of food preferences and allergies, the world of property subdivision adds even more complexity.
Here are just a few of the things we advise our clients to consider as they weigh up whether property subdivision is right for them:

  • Significant trees
  • Any heritage listings
  • The level of the land
  • Aspect of the land (which way will the houses face)
  • Services (water, sewage, electricity, drainage etc.) – identify potential issues/costs with your surveyor
  • Easements
  • Medium house prices and recent sales in the area
  • Potential resale value (engage a valuer)
  • Popularity of the suburb
  • Neighbouring Houses
  • Over shadowing neighbour’s houses

For more information on the role of your conveyancer throughout the subdivision project, please click here.
We hope that these helpful tips contribute towards making your subdivision project a pain-free experience – good luck!