Certificate of Occupancy
A C of O is the document by which the government grants a right to occupy land for a term, usually 99 years in the FCT. It names the holder, the plot and the term, and refers to a survey plan.
Right of Occupancy
An R of O is an earlier stage: an offer of the plot that becomes a C of O once conditions and fees are met. Values are often lower where only an R of O exists, because the buyer carries the risk of completing the process.
Deed of assignment
When land changes hands, the seller assigns their interest to the buyer by deed. In the FCT, the transfer needs government consent before it is perfected. Your lawyer handles this.
The survey plan
The survey plan shows the plot's shape, size, beacons and coordinates. This is where a surveyor comes in: we go to the land, find the beacons and check that what is on the ground matches the plan.
Mismatches are common. Beacons get moved, plots get re-sized, and neighbours build across lines. Better to find out before you pay.
Who checks what
A surveyor checks the land against the plan and reports differences. A lawyer searches the land registry, confirms the title is genuine and handles consent. You need both.