The Senior Master always considers whether you can afford all of the ongoing costs associated with a buying a property. This includes paying for:

Insurance

All property bought from funds in Court must be insured. Insurance is renewed each year.

To make sure that you are eligible to have your house insured, you need to provide a National Police Certificate.

Your Client Services Officer will use your National Police Certificate to check with the insurance company that you can be insured. Sometimes, you might not be able to be insured if you have a criminal record.

If you are not able to be insured, the Senior Master may not approve the purchase.

It might affect your insurance if you are convicted of a criminal offence after the house has been bought. You need to tell your Client Services Officer if you receive any convictions.

Rates

Council rates are charged to help the local council pay for things like:

  • water services
  • rubbish collection and recycling
  • looking after roads and footpaths
  • running libraries and recreation centres.

Everyone who owns a house has to pay council rates.

The amount that you pay can depend on where you live and how much your house is worth.

Property maintenance

Maintenance costs include those for repairing, renovating or modifying your house.

If you need to modify your home because of your injury or disability, you should read Modifying a house.