Selling a property while leased

We understand that you may want to sell your DHA leased property during the term of the lease agreement. You can sell the property at any time¹, however, the property must be sold with the lease and property care contract (applicable for lease edition 7) in place.

Process for selling your property while leased

The step-by-step process for selling your DHA leased property is provided below.

If you require assistance or have questions about selling your property, please email midleasesales@dha.gov.au or call us on 139 342.

If you require assistance accessing your online services account, please email lessormanagement@dha.gov.au.

Should you wish to discuss an extension of the lease term for the purpose of selling the property please email midleasesales@dha.gov.au or call us on 139 342.

If you decide to proceed with the sale of your property, you are required to notify DHA that the property is for sale.

It is important that you notify DHA when you appoint an agent to sell the property, contracts are signed/exchanged, and settlement takes place. This can be done via your Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) account as outlined below.

Following settlement of the property the new owner will be assigned an Online Services account, and you will no longer have access to the property under your Online Services account. DHA recommend you download and save your property information prior to this occurring.

If you wish to sell your DHA-leased property, we recommend obtaining a desktop appraisal from an agent of your choosing in the first instance. You can obtain your property information required for this through your Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) account, via the “Appraisal and Sale” tab.
Please note that DHA does not have a list of agents that we are able to recommend for assisting with selling your property. However, you can search a real estate website with the keywords of DHA or Defence Housing Australia to view Agents with current DHA listings.
Log into DHA Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) and click on the Property ID to access your property information via the “Appraisal and Sale” tab.
From here you can download a sales package to provide to your agent.
We recommend providing your agent a copy of the following:
- property photos
- floor plan
- a copy of the lease and property care contract (applicable for Lease Edition 7)
- current rent details (available on your latest statement)
- a copy of Sales agent instructions - Selling a property with a DHA Lease in place. Please ensure this link is forwarded to your agent prior to them marketing the property for sale.
- if you are self-acting in the sale and have not appointed an agent, please advise us by emailing midleasesales@dha.gov.au so further advice can be provided.
If you decide to proceed with the sale of your property, you are required to notify DHA that the property is for sale.
This can be done by starting the sale process through your Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) account, via the “Appraisal and Sale” tab.
This will send a notification to DHA of your intent to list the property.
If you have signed an agency agreement and appointed a real estate agent, you will be prompted to provide your agent details when starting the sale process.
As the property owner please ensure your appointed agent follows the sales agent guidelines Sales agent instructions - Selling a property with a DHA Lease in place.
If you are self-acting in the sale and have not appointed an agent, you will advise self-acting when prompted to provide the agent details. Please ensure you advise us if you are self-acting by emailing midleasesales@dha.gov.au so further advice can be provided.
- Provide your agent with a copy of Sales agent instructions - Selling a property with a DHA Lease in place. Please ensure this is forwarded to your agent prior to them marketing the property for sale as it covers marketing restrictions for a DHA leased property.
- Provide your solicitor with a copy of the DHA Solicitor and conveyancer instructions. DHA will liaise with your solicitor to ensure they have the information necessary for a smooth settlement process.
- Please ensure DHA is notified when you appoint an agent to sell the property, contracts are signed/exchanged, and settlement takes place. This can be done via your Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) account.
In the ‘Appraisal and Sale’ tab you can:
- download a sales package with all the property information recommended to provide to your agent.
- start the sales process- this will automatically notify DHA of the listing so we can notify the occupant.
- access the occupant details for sales inspection purposes - This is personal information and should only be provided to the listing agent for the purpose of selling your property. The details are not to be provided to third parties and you as the landlord should not contact the occupant directly under any circumstances.
- provide your agent details to DHA.
- request a physical visit.
- request a maintenance review following a pest and building inspection.
- provide notification of exchange (Raise a selling enquiry).
- provide notification of a sale falling over.
- cancel sale (Notify DHA that the property is no longer listed for sale).
Once you have started the sales process through your through your Online Services(Opens in a new tab/window) account the occupant details will become available to you via the “Appraisal and Sale” tab. To view the occupant details select ‘Request a Physical Visit’.
This is personal information and should only be provided to the listing agent for the purpose of selling your property.
If you are self-acting in the sale and have not appointed an agent, please ensure you advise us by emailing midleasesales@dha.gov.au so further advice can be provided. Landlords should not contact the occupant directly under any circumstances and DHA will assist you.
The occupant details are not to be provided to third parties.
Our occupant’s privacy and security is paramount. If the selling agent has difficulty contacting the occupant during the inspection process, please contact midleasesales@dha.gov.au as soon as possible so DHA can address any concerns.
The occupant must be given at least 72 hours’ notice before inspections are to take place. The occupant (or their nominated representative) must be present at all inspections.
The agent may request to do a virtual inspection. If a virtual inspection is required, the agent must follow the guidelines outlined in the agent instructions. If the selling agent has feedback on the presentation of the property, please contact midleasesales@dha.gov.au
Note that open homes should not be advertised for the property and Auctions should not be held on or adjacent to the property and as such an auction may not be the best method for selling a DHA leased property.
Please ensure your solicitor is provided the link to Solicitor and conveyancer instructions once you have decided to proceed with the sale of the property.
Keys to the property are not handed over as part of settlement, they will remain with the occupant or DHA for the remainder of the lease term.
For PEXA settlements there is no requirement for DHA to be invited to the settlement.
Following settlement of the property the new owner will be assigned an Online Services account and you will no longer have access to the property under you Online Services account. DHA recommend you download and save your property information prior to this occurring.

Next steps and more information

Log into your Online Services account(Opens in a new tab/window) to begin the sales process.
For questions or assistance, email midleasesales@dha.gov.au or call us on 139 342.

_{Rent may be subject to abatement under certain circumstances such as loss of enjoyment or amenity, or breach of lease terms. Rent is paid where the property is habitable. Should a property become uninhabitable during the term of the lease, or lessor breaches the lease terms, the rent may cease or abate and the lease may be terminated by DHA. Guaranteed rent is subject to the terms of the lease. DHA does not take into account an investor’s objectives or financial needs. Investors should always seek appropriate independent advice before making any investment decisions with DHA.}

_{1. Investors should consider their long-term plans and potential changes in circumstances when assessing a DHA long term lease.}