Quick Answer
A property title search WA reveals the registered proprietor, encumbrances, caveats and conditions attached to land. In Western Australia, your due diligence must specifically check green title status, survey-strata subdivision rules, mining interest reservations, registered caveats and rural title restrictions. A Current Title search through TitleFinder costs $74.50 AUD and is the starting document for every WA purchase.
What a Title Search in Western Australia Reveals
A title search Western Australia returns the current Certificate of Title (or Crown Title) for a given lot and volume/folio number. It shows:
- Registered proprietor(s) and their share
- Encumbrances: mortgages, covenants, easements
- Caveats: who lodged them and on what grounds
- Reservations: mining or Crown interests reserved over the land
- Any orders or injunctions noted on the title
For property due diligence WA, this is your primary document. But it will not show unregistered interests, planning zones or survey detail — those require separate searches.
WA Property Due Diligence Checklist
- Confirm ownership. Match the registered proprietor name on the title to the seller. Any mismatch needs investigation before you sign.
- Identify the title type. Is it green title, survey-strata or built-strata? Each carries different obligations and risks (see table below).
- Check encumbrances. Read every mortgage, covenant and easement. A restrictive covenant may limit building height, materials or land use. Easements for drainage or access may restrict where you can build or extend.
- Review caveats. A caveat prevents dealings with the land until it is withdrawn or lapses. Identify who lodged it and whether it can be resolved before settlement.
- Check for mining interests. Many WA titles carry Crown reservations for mining. A third party may hold rights to explore or extract minerals beneath your land, even on green title.
- Verify the plan. Order the deposited plan or survey-strata plan referenced on the title. This shows lot boundaries, dimensions and easement locations.
- Search outstanding rates and taxes. The title will not show these. Order a separate rates search from the relevant local authority.
- Check rural title conditions. Rural titles may carry conditions about clearing, water rights, stock routes or biosecurity. Read the title and any related instruments.
Green Title vs Survey-Strata vs Built-Strata
The title type changes what you own and what you must check.
| Feature | Green Title | Survey-Strata | Built-Strata |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you own | Freestanding lot, no shared common property | Lot defined by survey; may include common property areas | Lot within a strata scheme; common property shared |
| Boundary certainty | Defined by deposited plan | Defined by survey-strata plan | Defined by strata plan |
| Insurance | Individual building insurance | Individual lot; common property insured by strata company | Strata company insures building |
| Key risk | Mining reservations; easements hidden in the plan | Common property obligations; by-law variations | Levies, by-laws, building defects in common property |
Mining Interests on WA Titles
WA property titles often include Crown reservations for mining. This is a standard condition and does not automatically stop a purchase — but it means you must understand what rights others hold. A mining lease or exploration licence may exist over the land, giving a third party access for prospecting or extraction.
Your title search will note the reservation. To understand the specific mining tenement, order the relevant instrument or dealing referenced on the title.
Caveats: What They Mean for Your Purchase
A caveat is a statutory injunction registered on the title. It prevents the proprietor from dealing with the land — for example, transferring or mortgaging it — until the caveat is dealt with. Caveats are typically lodged by parties who claim an unregistered interest, such as a purchaser under an unregistered contract or a lender.
For buyers, a caveat on the seller's title means the transaction cannot settle until the caveat is removed, withdrawn or lapses. Your conveyancer must investigate whether the caveat can be cleared before you commit unconditional.
Rural Titles: Extra Due Diligence Steps
Rural titles in Western Australia may carry additional conditions not seen on suburban lots. Check for:
- Pastoral lease conditions. Some rural land is held under state lease, not freehold. The title will specify the lease term and conditions.
- Water rights. Rights to dam, draw or divert water may be restricted or licensed separately from the title.
- Clearing restrictions. Native vegetation protections may apply. The title may reference covenants or conditions about clearing.
- Stock routes and access. Some rural titles reserve access for stock movement. These easements appear on the title or plan.
- Biosecurity conditions. Certain areas carry conditions about pest management or quarantine requirements.
For a state lease rural title, the Current Title search at $74.50 AUD through TitleFinder shows the lease conditions and any encumbrances registered against it.
When to Order Additional Documents
Your title search is the starting point. Order these additional documents when:
- Deposited plan or survey-strata plan — Order when you need to verify lot boundaries, dimensions or easement locations referenced on the title.
- Instrument or dealing — Order when the title references a specific mortgage, covenant, easement or mining tenement and you need the full terms.
- Strata plan — Order for built-strata titles to check by-laws, unit entitlements and common property definition.
- Historical title search — Order when you need to trace previous ownership, old covenants or historical easements no longer on the current title.
This article is general information only, not legal advice. Consult your conveyancer or solicitor for advice specific to your transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a property with a caveat on the title?
Yes, but the caveat must be removed, withdrawn or lapsed before settlement can occur. Your conveyancer will investigate the caveat's basis and whether it can be cleared. Do not proceed unconditional until you know the caveat can be resolved.
What is the difference between green title and survey-strata in WA?
A green title is a traditional freehold lot with no shared common property. A survey-strata subdivides land into lots under a survey-strata plan and may include common property areas like driveways, managed by a strata company. Both appear on official property records, but their obligations differ.
Does a WA title search show mining leases?
The title will show whether a Crown mining reservation exists over the land. To find the specific mining tenement details — such as the licence holder, area and duration — you need to order the relevant instrument or dealing referenced on the title. This is a separate search.
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.