From 1 December 2018, it is mandatory for all property transactions in WA to be completed electronically where they are capable of being transacted electronically.

For the past 150 years when completing a property settlement, it has been necessary for lawyers and banks to meet up to check and swap documents and bank cheques.

The party that ended up with the documents then had to lodge them at Landgate and notify government authorities about the transaction.

The commencement of a new e-conveyancing system will bring the whole conveyancing process into the 21^st century filling it with much needed speed, efficiency and accuracy.

What is e-conveyancing?

e-Conveyancing provides an electronic online business environment for completing property transactions including electronic lodgement with Landgate and the electronic settlement of payment of funds.

This process is facilitated via a secure online environment to:

• Lodge the Land Title documents needed to register changes in property ownership and interests;
• Allow the various parties involved in the transaction to view and complete the documents online to conclude the property exchange or transaction; and
• Allow for the electronic settlement of all financial transactions at a nominated date including settlement monies, duties, taxes and any other disbursements.

The Benefits:

• Tangible time and cost efficiencies;
• No requirement for physical documentation at settlement;
• No requirement to physically attend settlements;
• Use of technology to reduce human error and settlement failure; and
• Aims to replace legacy paper-based approach.

This is a huge shift in the industry, similar to how share trading in the late 90s went from paper share certificates to online, revolutionising the stockbroking industry and share trading generally.

Who provides the secure online environment?

An online property exchange known as PEXA has been established nationally to provide a standardised platform for the completion of online property transaction.

PEXA removes the need to physically attend settlement. Basically, Landgate, financial institutions and lawyers can access the platform and transact together online, performing lodgement right through to settlement from the comfort of their desk.

Through PEXA, the following transactions can be completed:

• Mortgage
• Discharge Mortgage
• Transfer
• Caveat
• Withdrawal of Caveat

 

How does it work?

Lawyers open an online workspace where the Land Registry documents and settlement schedule are created and information is shared with all parties to the transaction.

Once preparation is complete and the settlement date and time is reached, PEXA will automatically:

• Lodge documents with Landgate;
• Exchange loan funds and pay stamp duty and other third-party beneficiaries;
• Remove the need for bank cheques and the wait that goes with them; and
• Remove the need to physically attend settlement.

How does this improve the current system?

It dramatically improves the current situation where lawyers and settlement agents representing the buyer and seller as well as the incoming and outgoing bank are required to meet up and exchange printed documents and bank cheques before a property is able to settle.

Simple errors like misspelled or missing names, names that don’t match across documents or wrong cheque details can cause the settlement to fail.

Using PEXA the information is pre-populated in the system and verified against the Landgate system, so it reduces error and gives certainty that the purchase will settle.

Read more about it here on:

• PEXA website:

https://www.pexa.com.au/financial-institutions/#about-e-conveyancing-financial-institutes

• Landgate e-conveyancing factsheet: https://www0.landgate.wa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/46964/eConveyancing-Information-Sheet.pdf

Disclaimer: This post has been prepared as a general summary only. It is not, and is not intended to be, legal advice with respect to any particular matter. This post should not be relied on with respect to any particular matter without taking legal advice. The author disclaims liability to any person who relies on this post.