On 11 October 2021, the Real Property Amendment (Certificates of Title) Act 2021 commenced, which abolished the Certificates of Title (CTs) and the control of the right to deal (CoRD) framework. All existing CTs have been cancelled and CTs will no longer be issued. Existing CTs will not need to be produced, and CoRD holder consent will not be required, for a dealing or plan to be registered. All existing Guidelines subject to this change are currently being reviewed and will be updated to reflect these changes. For further information regarding the abolition of CTs, please see https://www.registrargeneral.nsw.gov.au/property-and-conveyancing/eConveyancing/abolition-of-certificates-of-title

Company title

Company title is a term used to describe a conventional title held by a company whose shareholders occupy the building(s) in accordance with articles of the company. The company may find it desirable to create a strata scheme over such a title. In order to do this the following steps must be undertaken.

The strata subdivision of a building currently under company title is no different to any other strata subdivision of land owned by a company. The steps are as follows:

  1. Make a development application to the local council.
  2. Engage a surveyor to prepare a strata plan and provide a surveyors certificate.
  3. Obtain a completed strata certificate from the council or a registered certifier.
  4. Lodge plan with NSW LRS. The plan must meet all of the current requirements and the appropriate fees must be paid.
  5. The plan should be executed by the company as the registered proprietor.
  6. On registration of plan, individual folios of the Register are issued for each lot in the strata plan in the name of the company. A folio of the Register for the common property is also issued.
  7. Transfers are required to transfer the title for each lot from the company to the appropriate lot owners.
  8. The transfers will require marking at Revenue NSW prior to lodgement.
  9. The appropriate lodgement fees will be payable on lodgment of the transfers.
  10. Any existing mortgages would also need to be addressed to ensure they are recorded on the appropriate title.