What Happens to Your Queensland Property Contract Over Christmas?

AstraeaLaw
Dec 2025

The Christmas and New Year period can significantly affect contract deadlines for Queensland residential property transactions. Many buyers and sellers are unaware that not all contract dates pause over Christmas, and misunderstanding these rules may lead to accidental loss of rights or missed deadlines.

This 2025 guide explains how the REIQ contract treats Christmas non-business days, how the cooling-off period is calculated, and what you must do to protect your interests.

2025 Christmas Closure Dates (Queensland Property Contracts)

Under standard REIQ contracts, the following days are treated as non-business days every year:

27 December – 31 December (inclusive)

For 2025, this means:

Non-business days: 27– 31 December 2025
Public holidays: 25 & 26 December 2025, 1 January 2026
First business day of 2026: 2 January 2026

The Cooling-Off Period in Queensland — Does It Stop for Christmas?

Short answer: NO. The cooling-off period does not pause over Christmas.

This is a critical point many buyers overlook.

Key rules

The standard cooling-off period in Queensland is five business days.
Christmas non-business days do NOT apply to cooling-off calculations.
The cooling-off period only excludes weekends and public holidays, not the Christmas closure period.

Important for 2025: Cooling-off runs on 29, 30 and 31 December.

Example:

If a buyer receives a signed contract on 24 December 2025, their cooling-off period may run through:

29 December
30 December
31 December

If the buyer does not give a written termination notice by 5:00 pm on the fifth business day, the right to terminate under the cooling-off period expires.

Contract Conditions — These Do Pause Over the Christmas Period

Unlike cooling-off, most contractual conditions are paused during the Christmas shutdown.

Conditions that pause between 27 – 31 December:

Finance approval date (finance clause)
Building and pest inspection date
Settlement notices and other contractual deadlines
Any clause requiring action on a “business day”

If any due date falls within the non-business day period, it automatically moves to 2 January 2026, unless the contract says otherwise.

Why Cooling-Off and Contract Conditions Behave Differently

This is one of the most common areas of confusion for buyers and sellers.

Cooling-off: continues

Contract conditions: pause

This distinction can cause problems, including:

Buyers unknowingly lose their cooling-off rights
Sellers are missing notices because offices are closed
Incorrect assumptions about finance or inspection deadlines
Disputes arising due to timing misunderstandings

Understanding these rules reduces risk and protects your property rights during the holiday season.

Practical Tips for Buyers, Sellers & Real Estate Agents

For Buyers

Confirm your cooling-off end date, especially if it falls between 29–31 December.
Ensure you are contactable during holidays or appoint someone to act on your behalf.
Start finance and building/pest enquiries early due to industry shutdowns.
Seek legal advice before 20 December 2025.

For Sellers

Be aware buyers may terminate under cooling-off even during the break.
Monitor communication or instruct your solicitor to check urgent notices.
Clarify any deadline confusion before office closures.

For Real Estate Agents

Inform buyers that cooling-off continues during Christmas.
Check whether the contract uses the standard REIQ clause for non-business days.
Encourage buyers to obtain legal advice promptly after signing.

How Astraea Law Supports Clients Over the 2025 Christmas Period

Although our office will close from 20 December 2025 – 11 January 2026, our team will maintain limited availability for urgent cooling-off or contract-related issues.

If your contract is signed right before or during Christmas, please contact us early so we can help protect your rights and manage deadlines correctly.

This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.

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