For lawyers and conveyancers in Victoria

Once a property is registered with Homes for Homes, it continues to participate even when the property is sold, facilitating a 0.1% donation of the sale price at time of sale by subsequent homeowners. This creates a long-term donation stream. Donated funds are granted to housing associations to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, providing shelter to some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.

How the legal mechanism operates
Representing a seller
Representing a buyer

How the legal mechanism operates in VIC

To recognise a property’s participation in Homes for Homes, Homes for Homes lodges a caveat over the land title. The caveat acts as a simple reminder to the registered proprietor, of their promise to donate 0.1% of the sale proceeds to Homes for Homes when selling their property.

Download guide

When representing a seller

Step 1: Identify participating property

When conducting a title search, a participating Homes for Homes property is easily identifiable. Homes for Homes recognises a property’s participation by registering a caveat over the land title prohibiting Transfer of Land only. The caveat will appear in Encumbrances, Caveats and Notices.

Step 2: Disclose Homes for Homes in contract of sale

A property participating in Homes for Homes must be disclosed in the Section 32 vendor statement and as a special condition in the contract of sale. Simply download for insertion. For ease, the Homes for Homes special condition is commonly signed by the purchaser at time of contract signing.

Download Section 32 vendor statement
Download special condition

Step 3: Email executed special condition and advise settlement date

Once executed, the Homes for Homes special condition must be emailed as an attachment to [email protected] along with property details and proposed date of settlement.

Step 4: Invite Homes for Homes legal representative into the PEXA workspace

Upon receipt of the executed special condition, Homes for Homes will confirm the legal representative acting on behalf of Homes for Homes in this settlement and request you invite the Homes for Homes legal representative into the PEXA workspace. Homes for Homes’ legal representative will prepare and execute a Withdrawal of Caveat on behalf of Homes for Homes as part of the settlement lodgement case.

If the Withdrawal of Caveat is to be lodged as part of a settlement transaction that is excluded from electronic lodgement, a paper Withdrawal of Caveat Form 89W will be provided to the requesting party. Where the purchaser has executed the special condition, a new caveat will be registered on title post settlement.

Step 5: Disburse Homes for Homes donation

The Land Titles screen will show Homes for Homes is listed as a Caveator on a registered property. Navigate to the Financial Settlement Schedule.

A Homes for Homes registered property will also be identified on the Financial Settlement Schedule in PEXA. Click ‘Show Me’ for more details.

Information regarding the properties’ participation in Homes for Homes will be shown and the 0.1% donation is auto calculated by PEXA, and the dealing number will be automatically populated as a reference in the destination line item.

Click ‘Create now’. The donation will be added as a disbursement line item in PEXA ready for settlement.

Settlement via Cheque

For a settlement transaction that is excluded from electronic lodgement, a cheque should be made payable to Homes for Homes Limited. Cheques should be accompanied by a covering letter containing the details of the property, proprietor, purchaser and settlement date. Cheques should be posted to:

Homes for Homes Limited
GPO Box 4911
Melbourne VIC 3001

Homes for Homes will issue a tax deductible receipt to the proprietor upon receipt of donation.

When representing a buyer

A buyer may purchase a property participating in Homes for Homes. A simple title search will let you know if it is. All participating Homes for Homes properties are easily identifiable. Homes for Homes recognises a property’s participation through registering a caveat over the land title prohibiting Transfer of Land only. The caveat will appear in Encumbrances, Caveats and Notices.

A property participating in Homes for Homes will be disclosed to the purchaser as a special condition in the contract of sale. By executing the Homes for Homes special condition and keeping the property registered with Homes for Homes, the purchaser is continuing the promise and joins a growing number of homeowners making a difference to help solve one of Australia biggest social issues—homelessness. When the purchaser decides to sell the property in the future, whenever that may be, 0.1% of their sale price will also be donated helping grow the pool of donated funds.

Withdrawing participation

As a voluntary initiative, the proprietor on title can withdraw a participating property at any time. Homes for Homes can only act on the instructions of the proprietor, so if your client wishes to withdraw, please instruct your client to email Homes for Homes at [email protected]. Upon receipt of request, Homes for Homes will instruct our legal representative to prepare and lodge a Withdrawal of Caveat via PEXA. Homes for Homes will notify the proprietor when the property has ceased participation.