Property acquisition standards and principles

10 guiding principles of property acquisition

1. As the resident, you have a primary point of contact throughout, being your assigned Personal Manager. The Personal Manager provides you with support and assistance in navigating the acquisition process and is the central point of access to Government specialists involved in the process.
2. You are treated with respect and sensitivity at all times; your needs and those of your family are listened to and given consideration.
3. You are informed personally and promptly early in the process, from relocation to resettlement assistance where required and there is regular, timely engagement throughout the process through your assigned Personal Manager.
4. You are provided with all relevant information in a timely, easy to understand and transparent manner at all steps in the process with sequencing managed through your assigned Personal Manager.
5. The process allows you adequate time for consideration, negotiation, decision-making and relocation, without unduly delaying the project. The timelines and deadlines are clearly explained.
6. The valuation and acquisition process is fair, consistent and transparent based on market value. 
7. Clear reasons and explanations are given for financial calculations, offers and terms of settlement.
8. Support options and entitlements are unambiguous, easy to understand, simple to access and straightforward to administer.
9. Support options can be tailored to your individual needs within the bounds of the overall offer.
10. Your Personal Manager will record, manage and monitor your progress through the acquisition process so both you and the acquiring authority know your position at all times. 

Property Acquisition Standards

Acquiring authorities must follow five Property Acquisition Standards when acquiring property under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (Just Terms Act).

These five standards focus on fairness, access to information and assistance, consistency, and transparency, to ensure that:

• property owners are treated fairly and with empathy and respect
• property owners are provided with clear information about their rights
• property owners are supported throughout the acquisition process with assistance tailored to meet individual circumstances
• the acquisition process is consistent across projects and acquiring authorities
• the government monitors and reports publicly on the effectiveness of the property acquisition process.

Find out more about the Property Acquisition Standards.

Minimum requirements

Additional operational requirements to support some of the Standards are contained in the property acquisition minimum requirements.

The minimum requirements help acquiring authorities meet their obligations under both the Property Acquisition Standards and the Just Terms Act.

They are designed to be read together with the Property Acquisition Standards.

There are currently two minimum requirements documents.

Find out more about the minimum requirements for:

• Minimum negotiation period for the acquisition of land
• Owner-initiated acquisition in cases of hardship