Commercial property acquisitions carry significant financial risk. Thorough due diligence, precise contract negotiation, and careful settlement management are non-negotiable.
Book a ConsultationAcquiring commercial property is fundamentally different from buying residential real estate. GST implications, existing tenancy arrangements, zoning restrictions, environmental issues, and complex finance structures all need to be understood and managed before you commit.
At LK William, we conduct rigorous due diligence on every commercial acquisition — identifying every issue, advising on every risk, and negotiating contract terms that protect your position through to a clean, confident settlement.
Contract review and negotiation — conditions, warranties, adjustments
Title and encumbrance searches
Zoning, planning, and development approval searches
Review of existing tenancy arrangements and lease obligations
GST and tax structure advice
Coordinated settlement management
From initial contract review to settled title.
We review the contract in detail — advising on conditions, warranties, representations, and any risks that require further investigation.
We conduct comprehensive searches and investigations — title, planning, zoning, environmental, tenancy — and report on every issue found.
We negotiate on your behalf and manage all conditions to the contract — ensuring you are fully protected before going unconditional.
We manage all settlement documentation, adjustments, and obligations through to registered title in your name.
Commercial property transactions may attract GST. Whether GST applies, and whether the margin scheme or going concern exemption is available, depends on the specific circumstances. Getting the GST treatment wrong can result in significant unexpected costs.
If the property is tenanted, you acquire it subject to the existing lease. Understanding the lease terms, the tenant's obligations, and any existing disputes is critical before you commit.
Zoning restrictions determine what you can legally use the property for. If your intended use is inconsistent with the current zoning, you may need development approval — or the acquisition may not be suitable for your purposes at all.
At a minimum, you should conduct a title search, encumbrances search, rates search, planning and zoning search, and environmental search. If the property is tenanted, you should also obtain and review the current lease and any relevant correspondence. We advise on the specific searches appropriate for your acquisition.
It depends. Commercial property transactions can attract GST, but exemptions may be available — including the going concern exemption (where a tenanted property is sold as a going concern) and the margin scheme. We advise on the GST treatment applicable to your specific acquisition and ensure the contract is structured correctly.
A special condition is a contract term that allows you or the vendor to exercise specific rights if a condition is not satisfied — such as a due diligence condition that allows you to terminate if you are not satisfied with your investigations. Special conditions are a critical risk management tool in commercial acquisitions. We advise on appropriate conditions and ensure they are correctly drafted.
Book a confidential consultation with our team. No pressure, no legal jargon — just a clear conversation about your matter and how we can help.