Property development in Australia can be incredibly rewarding, but it comes with its fair share of risks, particularly regarding legal matters.

Making mistakes in this area can be costly and even derail your entire project.

Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, understanding and avoiding these common legal pitfalls is crucial.

So, here are 5 common legal pitfalls that you need to be aware of before you commit to a project.

1. Ignoring Local Planning Laws

Local planning laws include zoning regulations, which tell you what you can and cannot build on a piece of land.

For example, if a piece of land is zoned for commercial use, you might not be allowed to build residential homes.

If you don’t check these regulations before starting your project, you could end up building something that isn’t allowed, which can be costly if you have already purchased the site.

There are also rules about how big and what kind of structures you can build.

For ins...