You must provide written disclosure to your clients of all costs related to their conveyancing work.
Costs must be disclosed before or at the time you are retained by the client, or as soon as possible afterwards.
The disclosure must contain:
- the amount of the costs, if known
- if unknown, the basis for the calculation of costs
- how and when the client will be invoiced
- the dispute resolution options for the client, including:
- making a complaint to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria under Part 6.2 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
- making an application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) under Chapter 7 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
- any other prescribed information.
If you do not disclose this information before or at the time you are retained, the client is not required to pay your costs.
Download the Costs disclosure pro forma (Word, 94KB).