Quick Answer
When refinancing a property in Western Australia, your new lender requires a current title search to confirm you hold clean ownership and to identify any registered interests like mortgages, caveats, or mining rights. Ordering a Current Title / State Lease search through TitleFinder for $74.50 AUD gives you the official property records needed to satisfy lender requirements and check for WA-specific risks like survey-strata restrictions or green title encumbrances.
Why Lenders Require a Title Search WA for Refinancing
Refinancing shifts your debt from one lender to another. The new lender needs to register their mortgage on the title, which means they must confirm the title is clear of any unknown defects or prohibitive encumbrances. A title search Western Australia provides the current state of the official property records.
Key questions your lender needs answered:
- Are you the registered proprietor? The names on the title must exactly match the applicants on the new loan.
- Is there an existing mortgage that requires discharge? The old lender must discharge their mortgage so the new one can take priority.
- Are there caveats, restrictive covenants, or easements that affect the property value or use?
- Does the title permit the new lender to register their mortgage without restriction?
If the title reveals issues, your refinancing can stall until they are resolved.
WA-Specific Title Risks to Check
Completing property due diligence WA requires checking for state-specific encumbrances that can delay or block a refinance. WA titles carry unique risks compared to other states.
Green Title Restrictions
A green title is the standard freehold title in WA, meaning you own the lot and the building exclusively, without common property. However, green titles can still carry significant burdens. Check for restrictive covenants that dictate what you can build or do on the land. If there is a building envelope or a limitation on dwelling types, your lender may query the property's future marketability. Also check for easements—such as rights of way or drainage easements—that give others access over part of your green title.
Survey-Strata Titles
Unlike green titles, survey-strata titles allow for common property and shared structures, even if the buildings are entirely separate. When refinancing a survey-strata property, look for any strata by-laws or encumbrances over common property that might impose financial liabilities on you as the owner. The title will show if there are common property areas that require ongoing maintenance, which affects your serviceability calculations for the new loan.
Mining Interests
In WA, the Crown retains mining rights in many cases, or third parties may hold registered mining leases. A property title search WA will reveal if a mining interest is registered on the title. While most residential refinance lenders may accept a title with basic mining reservations, active mining leases or prospecting licenses can severely impact your property valuation. Always check the nature of any mining interest listed on the title.
Caveats
A caveat acts as a statutory warning that someone else claims an interest in the property. A builder, former spouse, or creditor might lodge a caveat. Your new lender will not register their mortgage until all caveats are removed or consented to. You must identify caveats early in the refinancing process so you have time to negotiate their withdrawal. If a caveat exists, order the underlying instrument to understand the claim.
Rural Titles
Rural properties often come with water rights, easements for stock routes, or broadacre zoning restrictions. Check for any registered agreements or rights of way that allow third parties access across the land. Rural titles can also have unregistered interests that require a separate search, but start by reviewing the registered interests on the title to assess the lender's security accurately.
When to Order Plans and Dealings
A Current Title / State Lease search shows the registered interests, but it does not include the actual documents that detail those interests. You should order supporting documents through TitleFinder when:
- You need to read the exact terms of a restrictive covenant to ensure your property use complies with lender requirements.
- There is an easement and the lender wants to see the specific rights and limitations granted.
- A caveat is listed and you need the instrument to understand the basis of the claim and negotiate its removal.
- You need to verify boundaries or common property areas by viewing the deposited plan or survey-strata plan.
Ordering these documents early prevents delays during the mortgage registration phase.
Refinancing Property Due Diligence WA Checklist
Use this checklist when ordering your title search and reviewing the results for refinancing:
- Order a Current Title / State Lease search ($74.50 AUD) to get the current ownership and encumbrance details.
- Verify the registered proprietor matches the refinancing applicant exactly. Check for spelling errors or missing middle names.
- Identify the existing mortgage and arrange a discharge authority with your current lender.
- Check for any caveats and arrange for their withdrawal or obtain consent before settlement.
- Review all easements and restrictive covenants for compliance with the new lender's requirements.
- Determine if the title is green, survey-strata, or strata to understand shared property obligations.
- Scan for mining interests, reservations, or leases that could lower the property valuation.
- For rural titles, verify water rights and access easements to ensure ongoing land use.
- Order the plan of the property if boundary sizes or common property areas need verification.
- Order relevant dealings or instruments to read the full terms of any encumbrances or caveats.
WA Title Types Comparison
| Title Type | What You Own | Common Refinancing Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Title | Exclusive freehold lot | Restrictive covenants limiting use, building, or future subdivision |
| Survey-Strata | Lot with shared common property or structures | Strata by-laws or common property maintenance liabilities affecting serviceability |
| Strata Title | Unit within a strata plan | Strata levies, by-laws, and common property disputes affecting security |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new title search if I am only refinancing?
Yes. Lenders require a current title search at the time of refinancing to ensure no new caveats, mortgages, or encumbrances have been registered since your original purchase. Official property records change frequently, so a recent search is mandatory.
Will a caveat stop my refinancing?
In most cases, yes. A caveat prevents any new registrations, including your new lender's mortgage. You must arrange for the caveat to be withdrawn or obtain consent from the caveator before proceeding with the refinance.
What is the difference between a green title and survey-strata for refinancing?
A green title gives you exclusive ownership of the land and building without common property. A survey-strata divides land into separate lots but often includes common property or shared structures. For refinancing, survey-strata titles require extra checks for shared liabilities that a green title does not have.
Note: This information is a general guide. Always consult your conveyancer or legal representative 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.
