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ARTICLE · 28 MARCH 2019

A caveat on caveats

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Caveats can be a cost-effective way to alert people that you have a legal or beneficial interest in a piece of property.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
Daniel Kentwell
Daniel Kentwell
Carly Lennan
Carly Lennan
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When used correctly, caveats can be an important ally in your security arsenal.

Loaned someone money? You should consider a caveat. 

Contracted to purchase real estate? You should consider a caveat.

You get the idea.

A person seeking the protection of a caveat is called a ​"caveator".

A caveat is used to protect a caveator's legal or beneficial interest in real estate — they are a cost-effective way for a caveator to let the world know that they have a legal or beneficial interest in the relevant piece of real estate. 

With the advent of online conveyancing platforms like PEXA, a caveat can now be registered in a matter of moments.

But what happens when a caveatable interest has not been properly described on a registered caveat? Caveats are a very technical area of the law – there is more to caveats than assuming you have a caveatable interest and registering one. 

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Michael Byrnes, Partner
Phone: + 61 2 9233 5544
Email: [email protected]

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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