Settlement agent fees in WA are not capped: each agent sets its own price, but it must give you a written quote of the maximum it will charge before you sign the appointment form, and government costs such as Landgate fees and transfer duty are paid on top. That makes comparing quotes on a like-for-like basis the most useful thing you can do.
This guide to the settlement agent fees WA buyers and sellers pay explains what a settlement agent does in Western Australia, how agents are licensed, how fees are quoted, which Landgate charges apply from 1 July 2026, and how buyer and seller costs differ. Figures come from Landgate’s published 2026 to 2027 fee schedule and guidance from Consumer Protection, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS). For more local services, visit our Perth hub.
What Does A Settlement Agent Do In WA?
In most states the job is called conveyancing. In WA it is usually called settlement, and the people who do it are licensed settlement agents. Consumer Protection describes their role as facilitating the legal transfer of property ownership from the seller to the buyer. In practice that means:
checking the Offer and Acceptance contract and tracking its conditions, such as finance and building inspection clauses
searching the certificate of title and making enquiries about rates, zoning and encumbrances
preparing and lodging the transfer documents with Landgate and the duties assessment with RevenueWA
adjusting council rates, water rates and strata levies between buyer and seller
working with banks and the other party’s agent, and settling electronically, usually through PEXA
Consumer Protection says the settlement period is usually 30 to 90 days, with the date fixed in the contract. At settlement the seller pays outgoings up to and including settlement day, and the buyer pays from the following day.
How Settlement Agents Are Licensed
Settlement agents are licensed under the Settlement Agents Act 1981. The Settlement Agents Supervisory Board that once ran the system was abolished under the state’s 2010 fair trading reforms, and its licensing and regulatory functions passed to the Commissioner for Consumer Protection. Today licensing is handled by Consumer Protection within LGIRS.
According to the WA Government’s licensing guide, a person can act in two ways: by holding a licence and a current triennial certificate granted by Consumer Protection, or as a certified legal practitioner. Businesses need a separate body corporate or partnership licence with at least one individual licence holder. Agents who trade in their own right must hold professional indemnity insurance, and Consumer Protection runs a Fidelity Guarantee Account that can reimburse people who lose money through the criminal or fraudulent actions of a licensed agent or its staff. Licence holders must also complete continuing professional development each year.
Consumer Protection warns that falsely claiming to be a licensed agent can bring penalties of up to $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a company. Ask for the agent’s licence details and check them with Consumer Protection’s licensing team before you sign anything.
How Settlement Agent Fees Are Set
Fee regulation for settlement agents ended on 3 February 2016, according to a Consumer Protection industry bulletin. Since then there has been no official scale of maximum fees, so prices vary between agents and between simple and complex jobs. In return, the rules on disclosure are strict:
Before you sign the Form 1 appointment, the agent must give you a written costs disclosure setting out the maximum amount it will charge.
That amount must include all fees, commissions, charges and general office disbursements, such as phone calls, postage, couriers and stationery.
Consumer Protection treats PEXA’s transaction service fee as a general office disbursement, so it belongs inside the quoted maximum.
The agent can only charge more if the scope of work changes significantly, it tells you in writing, you agree to continue, and the extra charge is reasonable.
Consumer Protection accepts several ways of quoting: a fixed fee, an hourly rate with an agreed cap, a schedule that still gives you a maximum dollar figure, or a pay-as-you-go structure where the maximum is disclosed up front. An hourly rate on its own, with no cap, is not acceptable.
Disbursements And Government Fees
Some costs sit outside the agent’s quoted maximum because they are paid to third parties on your behalf. Consumer Protection lists transfer duty, Landgate and council search fees, bank fees and third-party commissions. Agents are encouraged, but not required, to estimate these for you, so ask for them in writing.
Landgate’s published search and lodgement fees, as at 1 July 2026, include:
Landgate Item
Fee From 1 July 2026
Usually Paid By
Transfer registration, value up to $85,000
$225.10
Buyer
Transfer registration, $500,001 to $600,000
$335.10
Buyer
Transfer registration, $900,001 to $1,000,000
$415.10
Buyer
Transfer registration, $1,900,001 to $2,000,000
$615.10
Buyer
Transfer registration, over $2,000,000
$615.10 plus $20 for every $100,000 or part
Buyer
Mortgage lodgement
$225.10
Buyer with a loan
Discharge of mortgage (per mortgage)
$225.10
Seller with a loan
Caveat lodgement or withdrawal
$225.10 each
Party lodging or withdrawing
Certificate of title copy or search
$33.90
Ordered by the agent
The transfer fee rises by $20 for each $100,000 band, so on a home near REIWA’s June 2026 Perth median house price of $938,000 it is $415.10. Landgate notes the schedule is a guide and that the regulations on Legislation WA are the official source. Your agent may also order council, water and strata searches, which are charged at cost.
Buyer Versus Seller Costs
Buyers usually carry more cost. On top of the agent’s fee, a buyer pays transfer duty, the Landgate transfer registration fee and, if borrowing, the mortgage lodgement fee. Transfer duty is by far the largest item; see our guide to stamp duty in WA for current rates and first home buyer concessions, which RevenueWA administers.
Sellers pay their own agent’s fee and, if the property has a loan on it, the discharge of mortgage fee, plus any bank discharge charges. Rates and levies are adjusted at settlement, so a seller who has paid ahead will be reimbursed, and one who is behind will have the shortfall deducted.
One agent cannot act for both sides unless both buyer and seller give written permission on the appointment form, and Consumer Protection advises choosing an agent who is not also acting for the other party.
Settlement Agent Or Lawyer?
Consumer Protection advises that, unless you are a suitably qualified lawyer yourself, you should use a licensed settlement agent or a lawyer. For a standard house or unit purchase, a licensed settlement agent is the usual choice in WA. A lawyer is worth considering when the transaction involves a dispute, a deceased estate, a family law property order, a complex subdivision, or contract terms you want legal advice on before you sign. A settlement agent handles the transfer itself; if you need advice on whether to sign or how to change contract terms, that is a job for a lawyer.
How To Compare Settlement Quotes
Because there is no fee scale, two quotes from a settlement agent in WA can look very different. Ask each agent the same questions:
What is the maximum service amount, including GST and office disbursements?
Is the PEXA fee included in that amount, as Consumer Protection expects?
What statutory costs and searches do you expect, and roughly how much will they be?
Do you charge anything before settlement, and when is the balance due?
Is anyone in your business acting for the other party, or connected to the real estate agent who referred me?
Watch for conflicts. If an agent has a personal, business or financial relationship that could create a conflict of interest, it must give you a Form 2 disclosure before you sign Form 1. You can also change agents at any time, though you may have to pay for work already done. If you are still arranging finance, the mortgage brokers in Perth on our list can help line up loan settlement with your agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Settlement Agent Fees Regulated In WA?
No. Fee regulation ended on 3 February 2016. Agents set their own prices but must disclose the maximum in writing before you appoint them.
Who Licenses Settlement Agents Now?
Consumer Protection, part of LGIRS, under the Settlement Agents Act 1981. The former Settlement Agents Supervisory Board no longer exists.
Is The Landgate Fee Included In My Quote?
Usually not. Landgate fees, transfer duty and bank fees are statutory or third-party costs that sit outside the agent’s quoted maximum and are collected at settlement.
Can I Do My Own Settlement?
Consumer Protection’s advice is to use a licensed settlement agent or a lawyer unless you are a suitably qualified lawyer.
Conclusion
Settlement agent fees in WA are set by the market, so the price you pay depends on the agent you choose and how you compare quotes. Ask for the written maximum, confirm what it includes, and budget separately for Landgate fees, searches and transfer duty.
Check every agent’s licence with Consumer Protection, keep the buyer’s and seller’s agents separate, and get advice from a lawyer if your transaction is out of the ordinary. This guide is general information only and is not legal or financial advice.
