What happens after settlement?

Once a settlement is complete, the next steps are for the buyer’s conveyancing lawyer to attend the land registry office to lodge the title and transfer documents to put the buyer’s name on title. If the buyer has an incoming mortgagee, then this task is for their representative to complete because they hold a vested interest in the title, transfer and mortgage documents to be lodged and registered properly. As the proud new owner of your property, you should diarise to check that this task is properly complete. You can do this by asking for a copy of the certificate of title or order a title search from the land registry directly.

If you have purchased the property in cash, without the involving of an incoming lender, then you can ask for the original certificate of title in your name to be sent to you. If you do not want to keep your certificate of title as an original document, you can also ask for it to be turned into an electronic certificate of title (eCT). Not all states will issue an eCT at this time, but it is becoming increasingly more common.