Dozens of NSW homeowners misled by ‘administrative error’

The New South Wales government could be liable for millions of dollars in compensation after dozens of homeowners were misled by a property registry.

It’s been revealed properties were purchased without the prospective buyers being told the correct information about whether government had any interest in the land.

Between June 27 and October 24, the Land and Property Information department answered 309 inquiries incorrectly due to an “administrative error”.

Of those, 140 led to actual sales.

Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet today apologised, calling the error “completely unacceptable”.

“I apologise to home owners who find themselves in this situation,” Mr Perrottet said.

Labor MP and transport spokesperson Jodi McKay said it was a “monumental stuff up in what is a basic function of government”.

“This is about the right of the property owners, that they’re getting the right information with regards to their properties and clearly the government isn’t.”