Thorough due diligence is the foundation of any sound commercial property acquisition. We investigate every legal, planning, and tenancy issue — so you make decisions based on facts, not assumptions.
Book a ConsultationDue diligence is the process of investigating a commercial property before committing to purchase — and it is where most of the real legal and commercial risk in a transaction is identified. Issues discovered after you go unconditional can be extremely costly to address.
At LK William, we conduct comprehensive due diligence investigations — coordinating all searches, reviewing all relevant documents, and providing a clear, plain-language report on every material issue identified before you commit.
Title and encumbrance searches — registered interests, easements, covenants
Planning and zoning searches — permitted uses, overlays, development applications
Environmental searches — contaminated land, acid sulfate soils, flood risk
Tenancy review — lease terms, rent obligations, outgoings, expiry dates
Development approval review — conditions, compliance, building approvals
Rates and water searches — outstanding obligations
A systematic investigation to protect your acquisition.
We engage all required searches immediately — title, planning, zoning, environmental, and rates — to meet the due diligence period deadline.
We review all documents provided by the vendor — including existing leases, development approvals, and building compliance certificates.
We identify every material issue discovered in searches and document review, and assess the risk and commercial impact of each.
We provide a plain-language due diligence report summarising all findings, recommendations, and any issues requiring renegotiation before going unconditional.
Encumbrances, registered easements, covenants, and restrictions can significantly affect how you use a property. Some are beneficial, others are restrictive or costly. We identify and explain every registered interest before you commit.
Permitted uses, overlay codes, and development application conditions can restrict your ability to use or develop the property as intended. We investigate the current planning scheme, any applicable overlays, and any outstanding development conditions.
Environmental contamination, acid sulfate soils, and flood risk can have significant cost implications and may affect your ability to finance, develop, or resell the property. We investigate environmental issues as part of every commercial due diligence.
The appropriate due diligence period depends on the complexity of the acquisition. For a standard commercial property, 15–30 days is typical. For larger or more complex assets, 30–60 days may be required. We advise on the appropriate period before the contract is executed and ensure it is sufficient to complete all investigations.
Depending on the nature of the issue and the terms of your due diligence condition, you may have the right to terminate the contract or to renegotiate the price or terms. We advise on your rights for each issue identified and manage any necessary renegotiation with the vendor.
While vendor-provided searches can be useful as a starting point, we generally recommend conducting your own independent searches. Search results can change between the time they are obtained and the date of your acquisition, and a vendor-prepared search may not cover all areas relevant to your specific intended use of the property.
Book a confidential consultation with our team. No pressure, no legal jargon — just a clear conversation about your matter and how we can help.