Getting your property valued

The acquiring authority will engage a valuer to inspect your property.  This will happen at an early stage of the acquisition process.

The valuer will work out the market value of your property. They will also determine any other types of compensation you are due under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

How your property is valued

The valuer will determine the market value of your property.

Market value of land property at any time means the amount that would have been paid for the land property if it had been sold at that time by a willing but not anxious seller to a willing but not anxious buyer, disregarding:

• any increase or decrease in the value of the land property caused by the carrying out of, or the proposal to carry out, the public purpose for which the land property was acquired, and
• any increase in the value of the land property caused by the carrying out by the authority of the State, before the land property is acquired, of improvements for the public purpose for which the land property is to be acquired, and
• any increase in the value of the land property caused by its use in a manner or for a purpose contrary to law.

The valuation report

The valuer will prepare a valuation report. See what a valuation report must contain. Acquiring Authorities must exchange valuation reports with property owners as soon as practicable after both parties have received their final respective valuations, and where the property owner is willing to do so.

Getting your own valuation 

We recommend you have your own valuation carried out by an independent valuer. 

It is important you know that the market value of your property has been independently assessed in line with market conditions. 

There are a number of details the valuation report must contain.

When you have your own valuation report, your acquisition support team will arrange an exchange of reports between the valuers.

If there are differences between the valuations, your acquisition support team will arrange a meeting between the valuers. You and your legal representatives are welcome to attend these meetings.

The aim of the meeting is to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with you and the acquiring authority.

By getting an independent valuation early, negotiations can begin quickly and you’ll have more time to find a new property.

See types of compensation for information on  how partial acquisition valuations are made.

Compensation for valuation fees

Discuss valuation costs with the acquiring authority before you engage your own valuer. 

When the acquisition is settled, the acquiring authority will pay the agreed valuation fees, as long as:

• the valuer is appropriately qualified

Valuer qualifications

Your valuer must have one of the following  qualifications:

• full member of the Australian Valuers Institute (not an associate or student member)
• full member of the Australian Property Institute (not a student or provisional member), obtained because of their occupation as a valuer
• full member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors as a chartered  valuer.

Find a qualified valuer

These organisations can give you independent advice on finding a qualified valuer.