In modern Australia, what is a “residential premises”? It’s a deceptively simple question, but one for which there is no clear legal answer.

This may seem surprising, given the significance Australians place on home ownership. Research by the Commonwealth Bank in 2019 found 75 per cent of people aged under 30, and 69 per cent of those who are older, consider property ownership to be the “Great Australian Dream”. The Prime Minister has sought to tap this sentiment, promising “the great Australian dream of home ownership will be unlocked” by the proposed Super Home Buyer Scheme.