Quick Answer
Before refinancing a Western Australia property, order a current title search to verify ownership, identify registered encumbrances (mortgages, caveats, easements), and check for WA-specific risks like mining interests and survey-strata restrictions. A Current Title / State Lease search through TitleFinder costs $74.50 AUD and provides the information most lenders require.
Why a Title Search Matters for Refinancing
When you refinance, your new lender needs to confirm the property title is in order before they register their mortgage. Any registered encumbrance, caveat, or unresolved interest can delay or block the refinancing process. A property title search WA gives you and your lender a clear view of what is registered against the property, so you can address issues before they become settlement problems.
Refinancing Title Checklist
1. Confirm Current Ownership
Order a current title search to verify the registered proprietor names match the loan applicants. If ownership has changed due to marriage, divorce, or an unregistered transfer, the title will not reflect the correct owners and the lender may refuse to proceed.
What to check: Registered proprietor names on the current title.
2. Identify Existing Mortgages
Your current mortgage must be identified so it can be discharged at settlement. The title search shows the mortgage registration number and lender name. If multiple mortgages are registered, all must be accounted for.
What to check: Number of registered mortgages, registration volumes and folios.
3. Check for Caveats
A caveat is a registered claim over the property, often lodged by a third party with a financial interest. Caveats can prevent the registration of a new mortgage. Before refinancing, identify every caveat and determine whether it can be removed or requires consent.
What to check: Caveat type, caveator name, and any lapsing dates.
4. Review Easements
Easements grant rights to third parties over part of your land—common types include drainage, right of way, and sewerage easements. While easements do not usually block refinancing, lenders want the full picture. If an easement affects the dwelling footprint or limits development, it may affect the lender's valuation.
What to check: Easement type, dimensions, and benefiting land.
5. Examine Mining Interests (WA-Specific)
Western Australia's mining legislation creates unique title risks. Mining leases, exploration licences, and mining reservations can be registered on or affect a property title. Even residential properties in Perth's outer suburbs can be subject to mining interests. If a mining interest appears on your title, your lender may require further documentation before proceeding.
What to check: Any mining reservations on the title; for rural properties, check whether the land falls within a mining tenement area.
6. Understand Your Title Type: Green Title vs Survey-Strata
WA properties commonly fall under two freehold title types. Lenders assess each differently.
| Feature | Green Title | Survey-Strata Title |
|---|---|---|
| Land ownership | Exclusive freehold lot | Survey-strata lot with possible common property |
| Common property | None | May exist (driveways, shared walls) |
| By-laws | None | May apply |
| Lender risk | Lower—no shared obligations | Higher—common property and by-law obligations |
| Extra documents for refinancing | Title search usually sufficient | Survey-strata plan often required |
Green title means you hold the land exclusively. Survey-strata titles divide land into lots with possible common property and by-laws. If your property is survey-strata, consider ordering the survey-strata plan to confirm lot boundaries and common property areas.
7. Check for Restrictive Covenants and Notices
Restrictive covenants limit how you can use or develop the land. They are common in newer subdivisions and rural residential estates. Notices—such as heritage orders or building covenants—can also appear on the title. Lenders need to see these, as they may affect property value.
What to check: Covenant terms, notice types, and whether they remain enforceable.
8. Rural Titles: Access and Water Rights
If your property is rural, the title may contain rights-of-way, water licences, or other access provisions. Some rural titles carry pastoral lease conditions or unregistered agreements that affect land use. Lenders assessing rural refinancing often require evidence of legal access and water entitlements.
What to check: Easements for access, water rights, and any pastoral or leasehold conditions on the title.
When to Order Additional Documents
A current title search covers most refinancing requirements, but you may need extra documents:
- Survey-strata plan: Required if the property is survey-strata and the lender needs lot boundaries and common property details.
- Dealing or instrument copy: Order this to review the full terms of a registered mortgage, easement, or covenant.
- Deposited plan: Needed if lot dimensions or boundaries are unclear from the title alone.
Order these at the same time as your title search to avoid delays.
Checklist Summary
- Verify registered proprietor names
- Identify all mortgages for discharge
- Review caveats for removal or consent
- Note easements and their effect on value
- Check for mining interests
- Confirm title type (green title or survey-strata)
- Review restrictive covenants and notices
- For rural titles, verify access and water rights
- Order survey-strata plan or dealing copy if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refinance if there is a caveat on my title?
It depends on the caveat. Some caveats can be removed by application; others require the caveator's consent. Identify the caveat through a title search Western Australia and seek advice on whether it can be cleared before your refinancing application.
Does a green title affect refinancing differently to a survey-strata title?
Lenders generally treat green titles as lower risk because there is no common property or strata corporation to consider. Survey-strata titles require additional checks, including by-laws and common property obligations. Both are refinanceable, but survey-strata may take longer to assess.
How much does a WA property title search cost for refinancing?
A Current Title / State Lease search through TitleFinder costs $74.50 AUD. This provides the current title details most lenders require. Additional documents such as survey-strata plans and dealing copies are priced separately.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Property due diligence WA requirements vary by transaction—consult your conveyancer or solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.
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.
