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Commercial property law can look simple until the paperwork starts talking. Melly Shute | 16th January 2026 Mixed use property is having a moment in Melbourne. A shopfront with a residence upstairs looks like the dream: income downstairs, lifestyle upstairs, and the smug satisfaction of owning “a little building” in an inner city suburb.
Article posted by innercitynews.com.au Melly Shute | 1st December, 2025 Victoria plans to require reserve prices to be published seven days before auction from 2026. Here is how that interacts with existing underquoting rules, what Consumer Affairs Victoria’s data shows and how inner city buyers should calibrate due diligence and strategy now. Victoria’s auction rules are changing. The Victorian Government announced on November 19, 2025, that legislation will be introduced in 2026 to require publication of a property’s reserve price at least seven days before an auction or fixed date sale .
Melly Shute | 26th November, 2025 Commercial subleases can be fast, cash-positive transactions when structured correctly. They are also fertile ground for disputes if consent, rent waterfalls, and make-good are not nailed down at the outset. For Victorian landlords, tenants and would-be subtenants, this is a concise guide to getting a sublease done quickly while protecting your position.
Melly Shute | 7th November, 2025 Smith Street used to be a stage: cafés buzzing, boutiques bursting with treasures, foot traffic like background music. Now it is more like a ghost town with better lighting. “For Lease” signs replace chatter, empty windows replace whimsy, and landlords are left wondering if tumbleweeds pay rent.
Article posted by innercitynews.com.au Melly Shute | 30th September, 2025 If you live in an inner-city apartment and have ever wondered whether you bought a home or accidentally invested in a low-budget hostel, here is some news: Victoria has finally noticed. From January 1, 2025, the Short Stay Levy Act 2024 came into effect. The headlines focused on the new 7.5 per cent levy on booking fees, but the real story is what else the law does. It gives owners’ corporations (OC) more power than a nosy neighbour with too much time on their hands.
By Melly Shute Spring has arrived in the inner city and with it comes sunshine, hay fever, and inevitably, tree disputes. You might think of trees as harmless, leafy air-purifiers, but in property law, they can become the quiet villains of the street.
Article posted by innercitynews.com.au Melly Shute | 3rd September, 2025 Let’s talk about a cherished Melbourne pastime: objecting to development. You’ve probably heard the term NIMBY, “Not In My Backyard.” It refers to that charming inner-city tradition where people support new housing, sustainability, and urban vibrancy … until someone proposes anything within three tram stops of their house. You’re planning a townhouse to raise your family close to your workplace; the NIMBY sees a Packer-style casino.
Find out whether you can gift a property to a family member or spouse in Victoria without paying stamp duty. MLS Legal explains exemptions and transfer options.
MLS LEGAL – Property Law Specialists in East Melbourne
If you are buying a property in Victoria, you will almost certainly come across the Section 32 Statement. It is a critical part of the sale process, but many buyers do not really read it. Others read it without knowing what they are looking for. That is risky. If there is a problem in the disclosure, or if the contract contains an unfavourable special condition, it can lead to delays, unexpected costs, and in some cases a purchase that no longer makes sense once the fine print catches up. This article explains what the Section 32 is meant to do, what it does not do, and why a contract review before signing is often one of the simplest ways to reduce risk.
