The conveyancing industry will now have more time to prepare for the transition to electronic conveyancing.
WA Registrar of Titles Jean Villani granted a general exemption from the requirement to electronically lodge certain documents relating to the registration of interests in land until December 1, 2018. The original timeline had been for a May 1, 2018 start date.
Lands Minister Rita Saffioti has welcomed the decision, which will provide the industry – including settlement agents and lawyers – with more time to prepare for the transition to electronic conveyancing.
While many industry practitioners are already transacting electronically, others require more time to ensure a smooth conversion.
Electronic conveyancing will ensure the State maintains best practice systems, which provide superior protection of Western Australians’ property assets from fraud while meeting consumer expectations around the ease and efficiency of online transactions.
Both the Minister and the Registrar are firmly of the view that electronic conveyancing provides the safest, fastest and most efficient way to transact property and protect the integrity of the State’s land titles register.