Landgate is the land registry for all properties in Western Australia. When undertaking your settlement, there are fees that Landgate requires you to pay. These cover things like registering a transfer of ownership, a change of interest, and other types of land transactions. We can help you understand your Landgate obligations, and ensure they’re managed along with your settlement.
The Office of State Revenue, OSR, or Revenue WA, is the government department responsible for assessing stamp duty you pay when buying or receiving an interest in a property. They also manage any necessary land tax, and the First Home Owner’s Grant. Dealing with the OSR can be confusing—we’ve got you covered.
Real estate agents usually charge a commission when selling a property, or when you engage them to find you a property. You need to liaise with your real estate agent to confirm any fees you’ll be required to pay at settlement.
When selling your property, your real estate agent will manage all the different marketing activities to get your property in front of the right buyers: all the different activities like organising a signboard, property photos, and advertising. This will incur a price. RWS Settlements will liaise with both you and your real estate agent to confirm these fees before settlement.
In 2019 the Western Australia Government introduced electronic conveyancing for most types of real estate property transactions. This means that you can now complete your settlement online via the secure settlement platform Property Exchange Australia (PEXA). This makes it faster, more efficient, and more convenient to settle your property. At RWS Settlements, we enable you to make the most of this service, and offer electronic conveyancing, an online settlement portal, and regular video calls to support you, wherever you are in WA.
When selling a property, the contract for sale defines the terms of your settlement. Any fees or outgoings that the seller has already paid for, past the settlement date, will be credited back to the seller. Or vice versa: if the seller hasn’t paid any of these outgoings, they will credit their share to the buyer, up to the settlement date.
At RWS Settlements, we ensure that the necessary adjustments are made, to ensure a smoother, easier sale.
For more information on timelines and obligations before settlement, see Cooling-Off Periods in WA.
Buying a property does not have to be stressful. Let RWS Settlements handle the settlement of your purchase, so that we can provide you with exceptional service and achieve the best outcome for you.
Click on the link below to obtain a no obligation quote estimate for your purchase:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your purchase further, please do not hesitate to contact us to speak to a licensed settlement agent today.
Third-party fees and disbursements are costs that are charged by outside parties during the settlement process and passed on to you. They are separate from our professional service fee and are not something we profit from. Common examples include government charges like transfer duty and Landgate registration fees, as well as fees for searches and certificates required to complete your settlement. Think of them as the out-of-pocket costs we incur on your behalf to get your settlement across the line.
The most common disbursements you’ll come across in a WA property settlement include transfer duty (formerly stamp duty), Landgate title registration fees, title search fees, and council and water rates certificates. If you’re buying or selling a strata title property, strata company records are also required, and quarterly strata levies are taken into account at settlement to make sure the buyer isn’t left in arrears. The exact disbursements that apply will depend on the type and nature of your transaction.
Third-party fees are charged directly by government bodies, local councils, and other organisations involved in the settlement process. They are costs we have no control over and are simply passed on to you at cost. We always itemise these clearly in your quote and settlement statement so you can see exactly where every dollar is going.
This will depend on the type of transaction and the value of the property. Transfer duty alone can be a significant cost for buyers, so it’s worth factoring this in early. For sellers, the main government charge is typically the Landgate fee for discharging a mortgage, if applicable. We’ll provide you with a full breakdown of all expected third-party fees and disbursements upfront so there are no surprises come settlement day.
Absolutely. We believe in full transparency when it comes to costs. Before we get started, we’ll provide you with a clear quote that outlines both our professional service fee and all anticipated third-party fees and disbursements. If anything changes along the way, we’ll let you know as soon as possible so you’re never caught off guard.
