Property Search Request

Diamantina Shire Council (Bedourie, Birdsville and Betoota) publishes its property search request as a Word document. A full rate search reports the owner's name and address, property description, area, valuation, rating details and outstanding charges: the information council keeps in its land record under section 154 of the Local Government Regulation 2012. Overdue rates and charges are a charge on the land (Local Government Act 2009 s 95), so a buyer needs this before settlement. The form also orders environmental health searches and premises inspections, limited, standard and full planning certificates under section 265 of the Planning Act 2016, and searches of council's building files.

When you need it

• You are buying property in the Diamantina Shire and need the rates position, valuation and any outstanding charges.
• You are buying a licensed premises and need council's health records, licensing and transfer information, or an inspection report on the premises.
• You need a planning certificate, or information from council's building files about development applications for building works.

1. 1

   Applicant details

   Enter the applicant's name, postal address, locality, state, postcode, email, phone, your reference and the date, then the property location, property description and settlement date.

2. 2

   Vendor and purchaser details

   Give the vendor's name, company or association, postal address, email and phone, and the same details for up to two purchasers.

3. 3

   Tick the searches

   Rates and property: full rate search. Health: environmental health search (records only) or premises inspection with a report on current status. Planning and development: limited, standard or full planning certificate, or a search or retrieval of information from a building file.

• Return the form to Diamantina Shire Council, 17 Herbert Street, Bedourie QLD 4829, or email admin@diamantina.qld.gov.au. Phone 07 4746 1600.
• Allow a minimum of 7 working days for return of a rate search.
• Each search has a fee. The form says fees are on council's website and are renewed annually, so new fees may apply from 1 July each year. The form does not set out payment methods; ask council when lodging.

• The form is a Word document, so you can type into it and email it, but check the fields still line up before sending.
• Council recommends a premises inspection for all premises licensed under local laws, health or environmental regulations, not just a records search.
• Rate searches are handled by council's rating officer, health searches by the environmental health officer and planning searches by the support services officer, so name the search clearly in your email.