Property Search Request

Gympie Regional Council uses form CSF360 for all its property searches, with a companion Property Search Information document (CSI360) explaining each one. Rates and property searches report from council's land record (Local Government Regulation 2012 s 154), which buyers need because overdue rates and charges are a charge on the land (Local Government Act 2009 s 95). The rates and property searches include an ownership transfer fee; the form says that without a search the fee is added to the next half-yearly rates notice. Council may charge a fee for recording a change of ownership under section 97(2)(b) of the Local Government Act 2009. The form also orders building and plumbing searches (some needing owner's consent), a Form 19 request for building development information, pool safety certificates, planning and development certificates under section 265 of the Planning Act 2016, and environmental health searches.

When you need it

• You are buying property in the Gympie region and need a rates only search or a fuller property search with a plan.
• You need a special water meter reading, including a 1 business day urgent reading.
• You need residential or commercial building and plumbing records, plans, a final inspection certificate, a certificate of classification or a building compliance report.
• You need a planning and development certificate, written planning advice, existing use rights advice, or an environmental health search of a licensed business.

1. 1

   Applicant and property details

   Give the solicitor or applicant name, postal address, preferred contact person, phone, email, search reference and return method (email or pickup). Enter the property address and every lot on plan being purchased.

2. 2

   Purchase details

   For a purchase, add the vendor, purchaser, the purchaser's address at settlement, settlement date, the date the search is required by, and the property use.

3. 3

   1. Rates, property and water searches

   Tick a land record search (not for conveyancing), rates only search, property search including plan, fast track service, or a standard or urgent special water meter reading. Fees are per assessment number.

4. 4

   2. Building and plumbing searches

   Tick the residential or commercial searches, copies, pool certificates or Form 19 request needed. For searches marked as needing owner's consent, the owner ticks one option and signs: they are the owner, they authorise the applicant, or a copy of the contract of sale (residential or commercial) is attached.

5. 5

   3 and 4. Planning and environmental health

   Tick a limited, standard or full planning and development certificate (per lot), other planning searches such as a development compliance check, or an environmental health full property search or records-only search.

• Email the completed form to Rates.Searches@gympie.qld.gov.au. Council will phone the applicant to take payment by credit card.
• Or lodge and pay in person, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, at 2 Caledonian Hill, Gympie or 26 Bligh Street, Kilkivan.
• Allow at least 7 business days for rates, property and water searches and at least 10 for building and plumbing searches. Planning certificates take 5, 10 or 30 business days. Fast track options are on the form.
• Building and plumbing searches are provided in electronic format only. Fees are printed on the form; check the current version before paying.

• Adjoining owners can get a land record search free of charge, which reflects the free inspection right for owners of adjoining land in section 155 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
• If a building search is cancelled or no records are found, council keeps an administration fee and refunds the rest. Fast track fees and copy certificate requests are not refundable.
• Note 2 on the form warns that the duty to clear noxious plants, long grass and weeds passes to the purchaser, and council's clearance costs may become a charge on the land.
• For planning, building and rates questions, council lists separate contacts: planning@gympie.qld.gov.au, building@gympie.qld.gov.au and rates.searches@gympie.qld.gov.au.