Do I need a lawyer or is a licensed conveyancer enough?

For a straightforward residential transaction, a licensed conveyancer is often sufficient and can be more affordable. If your transaction involves something more complex, like a dispute, an unusual title, or a related legal matter, a property lawyer's broader legal training becomes more valuable.

How long does settlement usually take in WA?

Standard residential settlements in WA are commonly around six weeks from the contract becoming unconditional, though this can be shorter or longer by agreement between the parties. Off-the-plan and more complex transactions often take longer.

What happens if something goes wrong before settlement?

This depends heavily on the specific issue, such as a failed finance or building inspection condition, a title problem, or a dispute between the parties. Your conveyancer or lawyer should flag issues as they arise and explain your options, including whether the contract allows you to withdraw.

Can I do my own conveyancing without a professional?

It's technically possible for some transactions, but the process involves legally binding steps, strict deadlines, and financial transfers where mistakes can be costly and hard to reverse. Most buyers and sellers use a conveyancer or property lawyer for this reason.

Buying or selling property in Perth: the conveyancing process

By Mei Nair · Updated 2026-07-30

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions most people make, and conveyancing, the legal process of transferring ownership, is where a lot of that risk actually sits. Understanding the general shape of the process makes it far less daunting.

What conveyancing actually covers

Conveyancing is the legal and administrative work involved in transferring property ownership from seller to buyer. It includes reviewing and preparing the contract, checking the property’s title for anything that could affect ownership, coordinating with the other side’s representative, handling the financial settlement, and lodging the transfer with the relevant WA land titles authority.

The process, roughly step by step

Stage	What happens
Offer and acceptance	Buyer and seller agree on price and terms, contract is signed
Conditions period	Finance, building and pest inspections, and other conditions are satisfied
Contract becomes unconditional	All conditions are met and the sale is locked in
Pre-settlement checks	Title, rates, and other searches are completed and reviewed
Settlement	Funds and title transfer between parties, ownership officially changes
Post-settlement	Registration of the new ownership is finalised

Most residential contracts include a conditions period, commonly for finance and inspections, giving both parties a defined window to confirm the deal will proceed before it becomes binding.

A conveyancer reviews a property title search and settlement documents with a buyer at a desk

Conveyancer or property lawyer

Both licensed conveyancers and property lawyers can legally handle a standard WA residential conveyance. A conveyancer typically focuses specifically on the property transfer process. A property lawyer covers the same ground but brings broader legal training, which matters more if your transaction involves anything unusual, such as a title dispute, a complex trust or company purchase, or a related legal issue that intersects with the sale.

What can go wrong, and why professional oversight matters

Title issues, unclear boundaries, unpaid rates or outstanding charges against a property, and conditions that aren’t properly satisfied before settlement are among the more common problems. A conveyancer or property lawyer’s job is largely to catch these before they become your problem, by conducting proper searches and reviewing the contract terms carefully before you’re legally committed.

Questions worth asking before you engage someone

Ask how many transactions like yours they handle regularly, what their usual turnaround is for reviewing a contract before you sign, and how they’ll keep you updated as settlement approaches. It’s also worth asking directly what their fee covers, since some quotes are all-inclusive and others separate out search fees and other disbursements, which can make two quotes look different on paper for the same actual work.

Timing and what affects it

A standard settlement is commonly measured in weeks rather than months, but the exact timeline depends on what’s agreed in the contract and how smoothly conditions are satisfied. Finance approval delays, a slow building inspection, or a complication found during title searches can all push settlement back. If you’re coordinating a sale and a purchase together, timing becomes even more important, and it’s worth discussing this explicitly with your conveyancer early.

Special situations that add steps

Strata properties, off-the-plan purchases, and deceased estate sales each add extra layers to a standard conveyance. Strata sales involve reviewing body corporate records and any pending levies or disputes. Off-the-plan purchases carry their own risks around sunset clauses and changes between plan and completed build. Selling from a deceased estate generally requires probate or letters of administration to be in place before the sale can proceed. Flag any of these upfront so your conveyancer or lawyer can plan for the extra time they typically add.

Getting started

If you’re about to make an offer or list a property, engaging a conveyancer or property lawyer before you sign anything, rather than after, gives them the chance to review the contract terms and flag anything unusual before you’re bound by them. Not every legal situation gives you that same lead time; our guide on what to do after a car or workplace accident in Perth covers the first steps when there’s no time to prepare in advance. This is general information about how conveyancing typically works in WA and isn’t advice on your specific transaction.

You can compare conveyancing and property lawyers in Perth and see how firms are assessed in our methodology. Visit the Perth Legal Guide homepage for other practice areas.

FAQ

Do I need a lawyer or is a licensed conveyancer enough?: For a straightforward residential transaction, a licensed conveyancer is often sufficient and can be more affordable. If your transaction involves something more complex, like a dispute, an unusual title, or a related legal matter, a property lawyer's broader legal training becomes more valuable.
How long does settlement usually take in WA?: Standard residential settlements in WA are commonly around six weeks from the contract becoming unconditional, though this can be shorter or longer by agreement between the parties. Off-the-plan and more complex transactions often take longer.
What happens if something goes wrong before settlement?: This depends heavily on the specific issue, such as a failed finance or building inspection condition, a title problem, or a dispute between the parties. Your conveyancer or lawyer should flag issues as they arise and explain your options, including whether the contract allows you to withdraw.
Can I do my own conveyancing without a professional?: It's technically possible for some transactions, but the process involves legally binding steps, strict deadlines, and financial transfers where mistakes can be costly and hard to reverse. Most buyers and sellers use a conveyancer or property lawyer for this reason.