In most of Australia, the legal side of buying or selling property is called conveyancing. In Western Australia the same job is usually called settlement, and it is handled by licensed settlement agents or by lawyers who act as conveyancers. A settlement agent checks the title, arranges rates and tax adjustments, liaises with your lender, coordinates transfer duty and makes sure the contract conditions are met before ownership changes hands.
Settlement agents in WA are licensed through Consumer Protection, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS), under the Settlement Agents Act 1981. Licence holders must complete continuing professional development each year, and businesses need at least one individually licensed agent. Lawyers can also do the work as certified legal practitioners.
This list of top settlement agents in Perth for 2026 covers licensed settlement agencies with Perth offices, from West Perth to Joondalup, Cannington, Cockburn and Mandurah. We checked each firm on its own website and only show licence details where the firm publishes them. If you are budgeting for a purchase, our WA stamp duty guide explains transfer duty, and the Perth hub links to related local lists.
Settlement Agents In Perth At A Glance
Company
Based In
Best For
Known For
Vicki Philipoff Settlements
West Perth
Buyers and sellers wanting a large, established agency
Vicki Philipoff Settlements works from 32 Delhi Street in West Perth. The firm says its team has more than 150 years of combined experience, and that Vicki Philipoff has over 20 years of personal experience in conveyancing. Its services include electronic conveyancing, subdivision conveyancing, title searches, carrying transfer duty, paying agent commission direct, fast-track settlements and free SMS updates. Legal services are offered through a related practice, Philipoff Legal.
Pricing starts from $880 according to the website, which also refers to a fixed-price settlement product disclosure document. The agency lists memberships of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA Division, Strata Community Australia WA, the Urban Development Institute of WA, the Property Council and the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It describes itself as the only settlement agency in WA with quality accreditation. It suits buyers, sellers, investors and developers who want a larger agency with a published starting price.
Strategic Settlements is based at 308 Fitzgerald Street, Perth, and is led by managing director Trent Fleskens. The firm reports more than 115 years of combined experience in property settlements. It handles buying and selling settlements, PEXA electronic settlements, related party transfers, transmission applications, and subdivision settlements with project management, which can help owners splitting a block in an established suburb.
The agency quotes a fixed professional fee upfront for standard residential settlements and says its fees include GST and disbursements. It offers to match or beat a competing quote, and its on-time guarantee says it will cover its fees if a settlement does not complete on time or within the grace period. It is a member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA Division and a PEXA-certified agent, and it reports more than 600 Google reviews. It suits buyers who want price certainty and anyone planning a subdivision.
West Perth Property Settlements has its office at Suite 11, 1321 Hay Street, West Perth, and says it has over 20 years of experience in the Perth market. Its licensee, Cam Marron, holds both a real estate licence and a settlement agent licence, which can be useful when a transaction raises questions about the sale contract as well as the settlement itself.
The service list is broad: residential, commercial and industrial settlements, vacant land, strata titles, private sales, land subdivisions, new title applications, certificate of title changes, related party transactions, divorce property settlements and deceased estate transfers. The agency is a PEXA member and displays Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA membership. Quotes are provided through a free online form rather than a published fee. It is a good fit for people dealing with a separation, an estate or a strata purchase, where the paperwork is less routine than a standard house sale.
4. Castle Settlements — Cannington Settlement Agent Operating Since 2001
Castle Settlements operates from Unit 2, 15 Pattie Street, Cannington, and was established in 2001. It is one of the few agencies in this list that publishes its licence details: the website names licensee Wayne Peter Mort and shows settlement agent licence number SA44708. The agency is a member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA.
Its work covers residential houses and land, and commercial buildings, land and subdivisions, including electronic settlements. The site describes the standard steps clearly: searching the certificate of title, making sure outstanding rates and debts are paid at settlement, preparing the transfer of land, communicating with all parties, and attending settlement electronically or in person. Office hours include Saturday mornings, and the firm offers flexible appointment times. It suits buyers and sellers in Cannington, Victoria Park, Gosnells and the south-eastern suburbs who prefer dealing directly with a named licensee.
5. Settlement Group — Independent Settlement Agency With Balcatta And Rockingham Offices
Settlement Group has two offices, at 21/199 Balcatta Road in Balcatta and 7/31 Council Avenue in Rockingham, which gives it a presence in both the northern suburbs and the southern coastal corridor. The firm states that it is independently owned and has no business or financial relationship with real estate agents, developers, lenders or mortgage brokers.
Its settlement work covers residential, commercial, vacant land, private sales and first home buyers, and it uses PEXA for electronic settlements. It also handles title applications, such as subdivisions, strata plans, survey-strata, survivorship and changes of name or address, and transfers such as adding a spouse to a title or transferring property under a court order or after separation. The website offers an online calculator to estimate settlement costs. It suits first home buyers and private sellers who want an agency with no referral ties to the other parties in the deal.
Foley Burge Conveyancing was established in 2000 and works from Suite 105, 1 Silas Street, in the Richmond Quarter in East Fremantle. Tania Burge, a licensed settlement agent, is the sole director, and the firm says she handles each file from start to finish rather than passing it between staff.
Services include buying and selling settlements across Western Australia, deceased estates, related party transfers and transfers under Family Court orders. The agency describes itself as small and independent, with a focus on one-to-one service, and lists weekday office hours. It does not publish fees on its home page, so ask for a written quote. Foley Burge suits buyers and sellers in Fremantle, East Fremantle, Palmyra, Bicton and the surrounding suburbs who want to speak to the same person throughout, particularly for estate or family transfers where continuity matters.
Cockburn Conveyancing is based at 14/9 Parkes Street, Cockburn Central, and describes itself as an independent licensed real estate settlement agent. Its director and licensee is Wendy Drennan, and the team says it has been helping clients for over 10 years. It handles residential, commercial and vacant land settlements in Cockburn, across Perth and in regional WA, as well as subdivisions and property development.
The website sets out what the work includes: title searches, council and authority enquiries, compliance checks such as ATO clearance and smoke alarm and electrical requirements, rates and levy adjustments, liaising with lenders, attending settlement and issuing a settlement statement. Fees are fixed, and the firm says its quotes include government fees and charges. Its FAQ gives a typical residential timeframe of six to eight weeks. It suits buyers in Perth’s southern growth suburbs and small developers who want an all-inclusive quote.
Logistic Settlements works from 13/13 Hobsons Gate in Currambine, with meetings by appointment, and says it has been owned and operated in Western Australia for over 20 years. Its location suits clients in Joondalup, Currambine, Clarkson and the fast-growing northern corridor, where many new estates are still selling land and house and land packages.
The firm describes itself as an independent settlement agent that manages the process from the signed contract through to settlement. It is a PEXA-certified member for electronic settlements, and its site names several team members, led by Emina Davis. It promotes competitive fees with no hidden charges but does not publish a fee schedule, so request a written quote before you sign. Logistic Settlements suits northern suburbs buyers and sellers who want a smaller agency close to home rather than a CBD office.
Waterways Conveyancing is an independently owned settlement agency at Unit 4, 16 Sutton Street, Mandurah. It began operating in 2005 and describes itself as the largest independent settlement agency in the Peel region, while servicing property across Western Australia.
Its services cover residential, commercial and industrial settlements, vacant land, private sales, subdivisions and land developments, strata title matters, title searches, changes of name on titles, family and related party transfers, transfers under Family Court orders, and survivorship and transmission applications. The website includes a calculator to estimate both the settlement fee and transfer duty, which is handy when comparing purchase costs. Waterways sits at the southern edge of Greater Perth, so it is the natural pick here for buyers and sellers in Mandurah, Halls Head, Falcon and the wider Peel area, including people moving down from the metropolitan suburbs.
How To Choose A Settlement Agent In Perth
Should I Use A Settlement Agent Or A Lawyer?
For a standard residential purchase or sale, a licensed settlement agent is the usual choice for conveyancing in Perth, and fees are generally fixed. A lawyer is worth considering when the deal involves a dispute, unusual contract terms, a family law matter that is still being negotiated, or complex commercial issues. Both can lawfully act on settlements in WA, so the choice comes down to the legal complexity of your transaction.
How Do I Check A Settlement Agent Is Licensed?
Settlement agent licences are issued through Consumer Protection, part of LGIRS, and the business must have at least one individually licensed agent. Ask the agency for the licensee’s name and licence number, then check it on the Consumer Protection website. Falsely claiming to be licensed carries heavy penalties, so a genuine agency will provide the details without hesitation.
What Should A Settlement Quote Include?
Most Perth settlement agents charge a professional fee plus disbursements, such as title and authority searches, Landgate registration fees and electronic settlement charges. Some quote these together and some list them separately, so compare the total figure. Ask whether GST is included, whether there are extra charges for strata, subdivisions or related party transfers, and what happens to the fee if settlement is delayed.
Do I Have To Use The Agent My Real Estate Agent Suggests?
No. Buyers and sellers are free to appoint their own settlement agent, and each side normally has its own. Some agencies, such as Settlement Group, state that they have no financial relationship with real estate agents, lenders or brokers. If a referral is offered, ask whether any commission or rebate is involved so you can judge the recommendation on its merits.
When Should I Appoint A Settlement Agent?
Ideally before you sign the offer and acceptance. Perth settlement agents can review special conditions, finance and building inspection clauses, and settlement dates before you are bound by them. Once the contract is signed, appoint your agent quickly, because title searches, lender documents and duty assessments all take time, and a missed date can cost you penalty interest.
Conclusion
Perth has a well-established settlement industry, and the right agent depends on where you are buying and how complex your transaction is. Vicki Philipoff, Strategic Settlements and West Perth Property Settlements offer depth and broad service lists close to the city, while Castle, Foley Burge, Cockburn Conveyancing, Logistic and Waterways give suburban buyers a local office and a named licensee. Settlement Group covers both the north and south with two offices.
Whichever agency you choose, check the licence, ask for an itemised quote and appoint your agent early. If you still need finance, our list of mortgage brokers in Perth can help, and for a property transfer after separation, see our family lawyers in Perth list.
