Important property rule changes | Aintree Group Legal

The Victorian Registrar of Titles has released Version 12 of the Registrar’s Requirements for Conveyancing Transactions.

These changes affect what property paperwork you can lodge yourself, and how older mortgage documents must be handled.

Here’s what you need to know…

Timeline: What’s changing and when

From 29 August 2025

ePlans are now required for most new subdivision plans (up to 10 lots), unless the plan falls under certain exemptions.

This means surveyors and councils will need to prepare and submit plans electronically, making the process more consistent and reliable.

From 28 November 2025

If you’re handling property matters without a lawyer or conveyancer, you’ll only be able to lodge a small set of documents yourself. These include:

Discharges of mortgage
Survivorship applications (when one owner passes away)
Transmission applications (for executors or administrators under section 49 of the TLA)
Transfers that don’t involve money
Transfers that split a joint tenancy
Applications for new folios (creating a new certificate of title)
Certain caveats and caveat withdrawals

For anything else, you’ll need to use a lawyer or licensed conveyancer.

From 1 March 2026

If you have a paper discharge of mortgage signed before 1 March 2016 that hasn’t been lodged yet, it will no longer be accepted.
Your bank (or its lawyer/conveyancer) will need to prepare and sign a new electronic discharge before you can proceed.

Why are these changes happening?

These updates are all about moving away from old paper-based systems and making land transactions more reliable, secure, and efficient:

Electronic documents are harder to lose or tamper with.
ePlans reduce errors and delays in subdivision applications.
Restricting self-lodgement helps prevent mistakes in more complex transactions.

How does this affect you?

Property owners: If you want to manage things yourself, check that they still allow your document type. Otherwise, you’ll need to engage a conveyancer or lawyer.
Mortgage holders: If you have old paperwork for a discharge of mortgage, check the signage date. If it’s pre-2016, make sure it’s dealt with before March 2026.
Developers and surveyors: Be ready to prepare subdivision plans as ePlans from August 2025.

These changes may sound technical, but they’re designed to make Victoria’s property system more modern, accurate, and secure. Acting early will help you avoid stress and delays down the track.

For more detail, you can read the official government bulletin here.

Need help navigating these changes?

Aintree Group Legal is here to assist with all property matters and conveyancing enquiries. Our team can guide you through lodgement requirements, mortgage discharges, and subdivision applications with confidence.

This is general advice only and has not been prepared with your situation and needs in mind. For individual and personalised advice, we highly recommend that you seek out proper professional advice from your lawyer.