After more than a decade of advocacy and planning, Queensland is finally rolling out a major change that will reshape the property buying process for the better. From August 2025, sellers will be legally required to provide a comprehensive information pack to prospective buyers — marking a long-overdue shift toward greater transparency and protection in Queensland’s property contracts.
What’s Changing?
Under the new rules, every seller must include a detailed set of disclosures with their contract. This will cover:
- Zoning overlays – including flood, bushfire, heritage, and other planning restrictions
- Current land use and proposed resumptions – including any government plans that may affect the property
- Owner-builder works and approvals – ensuring buyers are aware of non-compliant or unapproved work
- Other key information – such as easements, encumbrances, and service infrastructure
These changes bring Queensland’s contract standards closer to those already in place in New South Wales and Victoria, where zoning, sewer connections, and caveats are part of standard contract disclosures. In fact, once implemented, Queensland may boast the most comprehensive buyer information pack in the country.
What About the Other States?
The Property Frontline recently conducted a national review of property contracts, revealing how uneven the playing field still is for buyers across Australia. In states like Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, buyers remain significantly under-informed, with minimal requirements for what sellers must disclose.
If Federal and State Governments are serious about supporting first home buyers, these contract standards need urgent attention. Mandated disclosures should be lifted across the board — not only to prevent buyer traps but to enable more confident and efficient property decisions.
More Information = More Power (If You Know How to Use It)
While the upcoming Queensland reforms are a huge win for buyers, they do come with a caveat — more information doesn’t automatically mean better outcomes. Buyers need to know how to read, understand, and act on the information they’re given.
That’s why The Property Frontline has developed a new support tool called Contract Compass — now included in the popular Property Smart Track. This practical, user-friendly module is designed to help buyers:
- Locate the critical information in a property contract
- Request missing information from the seller or agent
- Assess the impact of what they find — whether it increases value, poses a risk, or reduces future flexibility
- Decide with confidence — either crossing a property off the list or adjusting the offer price based on the findings
Helping Buyers Avoid Expensive Mistakes
With property being the biggest purchase most people will ever make, and the process becoming more complex by the year, buyers need better tools and education — not just hope and guesswork.
Contract Compass provides exactly that: real-world support that empowers buyers to spot red flags, ask smarter questions, and negotiate with clarity. It’s the only interactive, in-the-moment support module of its kind — and a critical addition for buyers looking to boost their buying power and avoid costly mistakes.
Explore how the Property Smart Track and Contract Compass can give you an edge in any market.
About the author
Debra Beck-Mewing is the Editor of Property Portfolio Magazine and CEO of The Property Frontline. With over 20 years of experience buying property across Australia, Debra is a skilled property strategist and buyers agent known for uncovering tailored opportunities — from family homes to multi-use investments.
She has deep expertise in advanced strategies including renovations, granny flats, sub-division, and development. A Qualified Property Investment Advisor (QPIA®), licensed real estate agent, and holder of a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business, Debra combines strategic insight with hands-on experience.
Debra is the creator of the Property Smart Track System™ – a professional property buying system that enables buyers to select, assess and buy property independently in today’s market. She also leads Buy Like A Genius™, a premium end-to-end buyers’ agency service for busy professionals seeking expert property acquisition without the stress.
As a passionate advocate for greater transparency in the property and wealth industries, Debra is a sought-after speaker, author, podcast host, and participates on numerous committees including the Property Owners’ Association.
