“Company Title” ownership developed as a way of allowing apartments in flat buildings to be separately owned. It is more commonly found in established unit buildings, but this method of title is still used to endow “ownership” in new developments or where an existing block of flats is held under a single title.

Company Title differs from the more common strata title for unit ownership in that a Company Title owner does not have a title in any real estate. The Company Title owner has, rather, a right to occupy a defined area in the company’s building (e.g., apartment no. 27) by virtue of owning a set number of shares in the company which owns the building (the home unit company).

Benefits of Company Title

• Company Title apartments are generally not as expensive as neighbouring apartments of comparative quality held under strata title.
• The residency of the Company Title building is controlled as, before shares can be transferred, the prospective owner must first be approved by the Directors of the company. These Directors are frequently themselves residents of the building.
• It is generally far easier to access and address issues with the management of the Company Title building than with a strata title manager.
• Generally, there is a high percentage of owner-residents in Company Title buildings (traditionally Company Title units being for residents only).
• Where renting is permitted (it is usually in the form of a licence from the relevant shareholder to the “lessee”), the tenant will more likely than not also have to be approved by the company’s Board.

Downside of Company Title

• The value of the unit “owned” through shares will not increase at the same rate as units owned under strata title.
• Some lending institutions are not prepared to advance as much for a Company Title purchase as a purchase for real estate held under Torrens Title or Strata Title.
• The Directors must approve your purchaser when you go to sell, which can restrict the size of your market.
• You must be thoroughly familiar with the home unit company’s articles of association or constitution, as the case may be, with failure to comply with any particular article having potentially serious consequences, including the forfeiture of your right to occupy the building.
• The law does not look upon a Company Title unit “owner” in the same way as a Strata Title unit owner, which may limit the extent to which you will be awarded relief should trouble arise.

Aspects of Company Title

1. No prospectus is required when advertising and selling your shares in the company. This is specifically exempted by the Corporations Law.
2. Stamp duty legislation provides for standard ad valorum rates on the stamping of Company Title shares so that stamp duty is paid as if the unit is held under Strata Title (i.e., between 3% and 5% of the purchase price).
3. Under conveyancing laws, the Vendor must make the same statutory warranties and attach the same disclosure documents to any contract for sale as are found in a contract for the sale of real estate, e.g., a zoning certificate under section 149(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
4. “Cooling off” provisions, which normally apply to residential sales by private treaty, do not automatically apply in Company Title sales as the sale of shares representing the Company Title unit is not caught by the definition of “residential property” under section 66Q of the Conveyancing Act 1919.

A Purchaser’s Position

In addition to carrying out the normal inspections and searches associated with buying a property, a purchaser considering a Company Title acquisition should also inspect the books and records of the home unit company and consider such issues as :

• restrictions on transfers;
• whether the company’s articles prescribe an interview for potential purchasers;
• whether renting is permitted;
• the purchaser’s own approval by the Board of Directors;
• restrictions that will be placed on any tenant and tenancy itself;
• how the right to exclusive possession of the unit is described, e.g., by the company’s articles of association and/or by licence arrangements;
• a shareholder’s obligations to make contributions and whether this obligation is at the discretion of the Directors;
• the current liabilities of the company;
• the adequacy and currency of the insurance effected by the company over the building;
• the provisions made for ongoing maintenance and repairs;
• rights and obligations pertaining to common areas, parking space and storage space and the use of balconies, etc;
• possible restrictions on auctions and sale/letting advertisements;
• the extent of the Directors’ powers.

Conclusion

The purchase of a Company Title unit should not be undertaken lightly, though nor should the purchase of a Strata Title unit. The relative rarity of Company Title “conveyances”, however, behoves you to have a solicitor cognisant with the law in this area advise you on your Company Title purchase.

Further Information

This Information Outline is provided courtesy of Yandell Wright Stell, which firm is experienced in this area of law. They are located at Level 5, 139 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, and invite you to contact them on (02) 9252 2278 if you would like more information on this legal topic or formal legal advice on your purchase or sale of a Company Title unit.