Quick Answer
A title search for refinancing in WA confirms your current ownership details, encumbrances and restrictions recorded on official property records. Lenders require this verification before approving a new loan. Ordering a Current Title search ($74.50 AUD) through TitleFinder gives you the document most lenders need to assess your refinance application.
Why Lenders Require a Title Search for Refinance
When you refinance, a new lender registers a mortgage over your property. Before they commit, they need to confirm the title is clean — or at least understand every encumbrance on it. A title search refinance WA request pulls current registered details so the lender can verify:
- You are the registered proprietor
- The property description matches the valuation
- Existing mortgages and caveats are identified for discharge
- No new encumbrances have appeared since your original purchase
Without an up-to-date title search, the lender cannot assess their security or prepare mortgage documents correctly.
Key Property Title Documents Western Australia Lenders Review
The primary document for a refinance is the Current Title. This shows the registered proprietor, all registered encumbrances (mortgages, caveats, easements, covenants) and the estate type. For WA properties, this is typically a Certificate of Title or a Crown Lease.
In some cases you will also need:
- Dealing or instrument copy — when the lender needs the full text of a specific easement, covenant or mortgage. Order this when the title references a document number the lender wants reviewed in detail.
- State Lease search — for leasehold properties, common in parts of WA. This search is also $74.50 AUD through TitleFinder.
- Deposited or survey-strata plan — when the lender needs to confirm lot boundaries, common property or unit entitlements.
WA-Specific Title Risks to Check Before Refinancing
Green Title
A green title in WA indicates a freehold estate with no common property or shared areas. Most lenders prefer green title because it represents clear, individual ownership. If your property is not green title, the lender will scrutinise the title structure more closely — particularly shared obligations and common property liabilities.
Survey-Strata
Survey-strata titles divide a property into separate lots with defined boundaries but may include shared common areas like driveways or drains. When refinancing a survey-strata property, check the strata plan and any by-laws. Lenders will want to confirm your lot boundaries, common property obligations and whether strata corporation rules affect their security.
Mining Interests
WA is unique in that mining interests can exist independently of surface land rights. A mining lease or exploration licence may sit over your property without appearing on the standard title. For properties in regional or resource-rich areas, refinance due diligence should include checking whether mining tenements overlay your land. If mining interests are registered, they may rank ahead of your new mortgage in priority.
Caveats
A caveat is a statutory notice that someone claims an interest in the property. During refinancing, any existing caveat — from a previous lender, a builder or a spouse — must be identified and assessed. Some caveats must be withdrawn before the new mortgage can be registered. Others may be accommodated depending on the lender's requirements and the nature of the claimed interest.
Rural Titles
Rural properties in WA often carry additional title conditions: water rights, pastoral lease provisions, conservation covenants or road access easements. These can restrict land use or create ongoing obligations that affect valuation and lender appetite. If you are refinancing a rural title, review every encumbrance on the title to understand what binds the property.
Refinance Due Diligence Checklist
Use this checklist when preparing your title search for a WA refinance:
- Order a Current Title search to confirm ownership and encumbrances
- Verify the registered proprietor name matches your loan application exactly
- Identify all existing mortgages — confirm discharge arrangements with your current lender
- Check for caveats and confirm whether they require withdrawal
- Review easements and covenants for any that affect lender security
- Confirm the estate type (green title, survey-strata, strata, leasehold)
- For survey-strata or strata: obtain the strata plan and review by-laws
- For rural properties: check for water rights, pastoral or conservation encumbrances
- For properties in resource regions: investigate mining tenements overlapping the property
- Order a dealing or instrument copy if the lender needs the full text of a specific registered document
- Provide the title document to your conveyancer or lender early — delays cost money
What Each Title Document Reveals
| Document | What It Shows | When to Order |
|---|---|---|
| Current Title | Proprietor, encumbrances, estate type, caveats | Always — core document for every refinance |
| Survey or Strata Plan | Lot boundaries, common property, unit entitlements | When the property is survey-strata or strata |
| Dealing or Instrument Copy | Full text of a specific easement, covenant or mortgage | When the lender needs detail beyond the title notation |
| State Lease Search | Lease terms, conditions and rent obligations | When the property is leasehold |
Timing Your Title Search for Refinancing
Order your title search early — ideally when you first speak to your new lender or broker. The title must be current at settlement, but ordering early gives you time to resolve issues like unexpected caveats, incorrect proprietor details or encumbrances you were unaware of.
Most lenders require a title search dated within 90 days of settlement. If your refinance drags on, you may need an updated search before settlement day. Factor this into your timeline.
TitleFinder delivers WA title search results promptly. Order your Current Title search ($74.50 AUD) through TitleFinder when you start your refinance application to avoid delays later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a green title and survey-strata title in WA?
A green title is a freehold estate with no shared common property — you own the lot entirely. A survey-strata title defines separate lots under a strata scheme where common areas like driveways may be shared. Lenders generally treat green titles as straightforward security, while survey-strata titles require additional review of strata plans and by-laws.
Do I need a new title search for refinancing if I already have one from purchase?
Yes. Your original title search does not reflect changes since purchase. New mortgages, caveats, easements or proprietor changes may have been registered. Lenders need a current search showing the title as it stands today — not as it was years ago.
Can mining interests in WA affect my refinance?
Yes. Mining leases and exploration licences can exist over your property independently of surface rights and may rank ahead of your mortgage in priority. If your property is in a resource region, check for mining tenements as part of your refinance due diligence.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your conveyancer or solicitor for advice specific to your transaction.
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.