Australian Property News

NSW increases property-related fees

Posted on Thursday, July 02 2009 at 1:55 PM

Increases to a range of property charges and land title-related transactions in New South Wales came into effect yesterday, the State Opposition says.

The Shadow Minister for Housing Strategy, Greg Pearce, says despite promises to do otherwise, the State Government has "slugged" NSW homebuyers.

"From July 1, 2009 some 15 fees and charges issued by the Department of Lands and the Land Titles Office will be increased," he says.

"This comes on top of the doubling of land transfer fees in last November's mini-budget."

Pearce says the State Government, with Nathan Rees at the helm, has pinned its hopes for an improvement in the NSW economy on the housing market and promised there would be no new tax increases in this month's budget.

He says housing construction in NSW has fallen to record lows.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show dwelling starts in the state fell 7.2 per cent seasonally adjusted in the March quarter, with only the Northern Territory and Tasmania recording worse figures.