Quick Answer
To read a title search in WA, check the registered proprietor, any encumbrances like mortgages or covenants, and review the plan type (Green Title or Survey-Strata). For auction due diligence, you must identify title encumbrances WA-wide, including mining interests and caveats, by ordering the Current Title through TitleFinder for $74.50 AUD before the auction date.
How to Read a WA Title Search
When preparing auction due diligence property title Western Australia documents, the title search is your starting point. Official property records contain specific details about who owns the land, what rights others have over it, and whether the property has restrictions that affect your intended use. Here is exactly what to check on the title document.
Land Description and Plan Reference
The land description identifies the lot number, plan number, and volume/folio. This tells you the exact parcel of land. Use the plan reference to order the deposited plan, diagram, or strata plan. This shows the physical boundaries, dimensions, and any easement markings. For survey-strata properties, this plan outlines shared walls and common property areas.
Registered Proprietor
This section lists the current legal owner. Check if the name matches the seller on the contract of sale. If there are multiple proprietors listed, all must sign the transfer documents. If the proprietor is a company, verify its status separately to ensure it can legally sell the property.
Title Encumbrances WA
Encumbrances are registered interests that affect the property. Common encumbrances include:
- Mortgages: The seller's lender must discharge these at settlement. You need to ensure the discharge process is underway.
- Easements: Rights for others to use the land, such as drainage, sewerage, or right of carriageway. Check the instrument to understand maintenance obligations.
- Covenants: Restrictions on land use, like building material limits, minimum floor areas, or single-dwelling requirements. These run with the land and bind future owners.
If you see an encumbrance, order the relevant instrument or dealing through TitleFinder to read the full terms and conditions.
Caveats
A caveat acts as a warning that someone else claims an interest in the property. Common caveats include equitable mortgages, spouse consents, or builder’s liens. A lodged caveat can prevent the property from being transferred until the claim is resolved. Never bid at auction without understanding who lodged the caveat and why. Order the caveat document to read the exact nature of the claim.
Understanding WA Plan Types: Green Title vs Survey-Strata
WA titles typically fall into two main categories. Understanding the difference helps you determine property boundaries, shared obligations, and insurance requirements.
| Feature | Green Title | Survey-Strata |
|---|---|---|
| Boundaries | Defined by survey marks on a diagram or deposited plan | Defined by strata plan, may include shared walls or courtyards |
| Common Property | None | May have common property like driveways or gardens |
| Insurance | Owner insures their own building | May require building insurance through a strata company |
| By-laws | None | Governed by strata by-laws |
A Green Title usually means you own the land and buildings exclusively. A Survey-Strata title can mean shared walls or common areas, which requires reviewing the strata by-laws and checking for strata levies. Always order the survey-strata plan to check for common property boundaries before bidding.
Local Risk Notes: Mining Interests and Rural Titles
WA has specific property risks that buyers from other states may not expect.
Mining Interests
In WA, official property records often show that the Crown reserves rights to minerals. Check the title for any references to mining leases, mineral rights, or prospecting licences. Even in suburban areas, underlying mining interests can allow third parties to access the property for exploration or extraction. If a mining interest is noted on the title, order the instrument to understand the exact rights granted. This could restrict your ability to build or use the surface land in certain ways.
Rural Titles
For rural properties, review the title for pastoral leases, water rights, and access easements. Rural titles often have large-scale easements for powerlines, pipelines, or stock routes. Verify boundaries against the official property records, as fencing may not align with the registered boundary. Check for any rights of way that allow neighbours or the public to cross the property.
Auction Due Diligence Checklist
Use this checklist to verify you have covered the necessary steps before bidding at auction:
- Order the Current Title / State Lease search ($74.50 AUD through TitleFinder).
- Verify the registered proprietor matches the selling party on the contract.
- List all title encumbrances WA: mortgages, easements, and restrictive covenants.
- Order the relevant deposited plan, diagram, or strata plan to check boundaries.
- Check for caveats and investigate the underlying claim by ordering the caveat document.
- Identify any mining interests, Crown reservations, or prospecting licences.
- For rural titles, check for water rights, stock routes, and access easements.
- Confirm zoning and planning overlays with the local council to ensure your intended use is permitted.
This checklist ensures you know exactly what you are bidding on. Always conduct your due diligence before the auction, as contracts are unconditional once the hammer falls. This is practical guidance, not legal advice—consult your conveyancer for specific contract implications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Green Title mean in WA?
A Green Title means the property is a traditional freehold parcel without common property or shared walls. You own the land and buildings exclusively, unlike a survey-strata or apartment title.
Are mining interests common on WA property titles?
Yes. Official property records in WA often show that the Crown reserves mineral rights. Suburban and rural titles can both be affected by mining tenements, which grant third parties access to the land for exploration or extraction.
What happens if there is a caveat on the title?
A caveat prevents the property from being transferred until the claim is resolved. If a caveat is registered, you must order the caveat document to identify the caveator and the nature of their claim before bidding at auction.
Order the right TitleFinder document
Use this guide as a reference, then order the actual record that answers your question:
- WA Title Search — $79.90
- WA Survey Search — $85.90
- WA Document Search — $91.80
If you are unsure, start with the current title search, then add the plan or instrument if the title points to one.
Need the title search? Use the TitleFinder product links above to order the current title, plan, instrument or state-specific property record you actually need.
