Settlement Agent Fees Perth (2026): What You Pay and What’s Included

As at September 2026, settlement agent fees in Perth are made up of three parts: the agent’s professional fee, office disbursements, and statutory charges paid to government and third parties. Only the first two vary between agents. This page explains what each part covers, who pays what, and what changes with the type of transaction.

How much does a settlement agent cost in Perth?

Since Western Australia removed fee regulation in February 2016, every settlement agent sets its own professional fee. That fee, plus office disbursements, is the settlement agent’s part of your quote. Statutory charges such as transfer duty and Landgate registration are passed through at cost and are the same for every buyer or seller.

Strategic Settlements quotes a fixed professional fee upfront for buyers and sellers. The quote is inclusive of GST and sundry disbursements, and itemises the statutory charges that apply to your transaction so there are no surprises. Get an instant online quote for your situation.

The statutory charges are often the bigger number. Transfer duty alone on a Perth property can run into tens of thousands of dollars. It is a State Government charge your settlement agent lodges on your behalf, not part of their fee.

What is a settlement agent fee?

When buying or selling property in Perth, the settlement agent fee is what you pay for the legal transfer work: preparing and lodging documents, coordinating with lenders and the other party’s agent, adjusting rates and taxes, and settling on the agreed day.

We suggest deciding on a Perth settlement agent before you enter a contract. Your lender or real estate agent will often recommend one if you have not already chosen. If you are buying, remember the real estate agent acts for the seller, so it pays to have someone in your corner. There is no cooling-off period in Western Australia, so once you sign a contract to purchase it is binding.

What’s included in a Perth settlement agent fee?

The fee can be broken down into the following parts.

The service of a Perth settlement agent

Your settlement should be as simple as signing a few forms and forwarding a few documents. Your agent handles the rest, with clear communication on progress and the settlement delivered on the agreed date wherever the other parties allow.

General admin costs

Admin costs cover items such as printing, phone calls and postage. PEXA (Property Exchange Australia) is the digital platform used to complete most Western Australian settlements. PEXA’s transaction fee is charged as a general office disbursement.

Government, statutory and financial institution costs

• Title search and transfer of land registration: completed through Landgate, confirming a clear title is being transferred and updating the property record.
• Transfer duty: a WA State Government tax, previously known as stamp duty. It varies with the property value and whether you are a first home buyer.
• Local authorities: enquiries with the local council, Water Corporation and similar bodies.
• Bank cheque: required only if the settlement is not lodged through PEXA.
• Strata levy certificate: required for strata titles. Previously the Section 43 certificate, now issued under Section 110 of the Strata Titles Act 1985 as amended in 2018.

Who pays what: buyers and sellers

Sellers in Western Australia engage their own settlement agent separately from the buyer’s agent. Each side pays its own fee. The two agents coordinate the settlement but represent their own clients. Some sellers assume the fee comes out of the buyer’s funds. It does not.

The statutory charges differ. Buyers pay transfer duty, title search and transfer registration. Sellers do not pay transfer duty but usually pay for mortgage discharge registration with Landgate (if there is an existing mortgage), title searches, PEXA fees and rate adjustments with local authorities. The professional fee for a standard sale is similar in range to a purchase.

Settlement agent fees by transaction type

The total you pay depends on the type of transaction, not just the property value. Here is what changes across the common scenarios.

Standard purchase: owner-occupier or investor

A standard residential purchase carries the base professional fee, with statutory charges itemised separately in your quote. The fee structure is the same for investors. Capital gains tax implications of an investment purchase should be discussed with a qualified tax professional. Settlement agents cannot provide tax advice.

First home buyer settlements

For first home buyers in Western Australia the settlement agent fee is the same as for a standard purchase. There is no additional charge for coordinating the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). Your settlement agent applies for the grant on your behalf with RevenueWA. For completed new homes and off-the-plan purchases the grant is usually applied as a credit at settlement. For house-and-land packages with a construction loan the timing differs, and your lender and settlement agent will confirm when it applies. Your agent also lodges the First Home Owner Rate of Duty concession claim.

Where a full duty exemption applies, transfer duty is nil, which reduces the statutory component of your quote. Thresholds are set by RevenueWA and were updated in the 2026-27 WA Budget. Check current figures at RevenueWA before relying on them. Eligibility is assessed by RevenueWA, not the settlement agent.

Deceased estate settlements

Before a settlement agent can proceed, the estate must have probate or Letters of Administration in place. Both are legal processes handled by a solicitor, not a settlement agent. Once those are satisfied, the settlement agent handles the property transfer and Landgate lodgement.

Capital gains tax may apply to property from a deceased estate. Settlement agents cannot advise on CGT, probate, estate law or beneficiary entitlements. See our guide to selling a deceased estate property in Perth.

Family and spousal transfers

Transferring property to a family member or spouse follows the same Landgate process as a sale, usually without a real estate agent. Transfer duty may still apply depending on the relationship and the nature of the transfer. Spousal and de facto transfers may qualify for a concession or exemption, which RevenueWA determines. With no mortgage involved the fee can sit below a standard purchase or sale; a lender on either side adds steps and cost.

Capital gains tax may apply to transfers between family members. Discuss this with a qualified tax professional before proceeding. Settlement agents cannot advise on duty concession eligibility or tax. See our guide to transferring property to a family member in WA.

Off-the-plan settlements

Settlement cannot proceed until Landgate has issued the certificate of title, which requires construction to be complete and, for strata properties, the strata plan to be registered. The settlement agent monitors title registration milestones and coordinates with the developer’s agent over an extended period. The WA off-the-plan duty concession is calculated by RevenueWA; eligibility is theirs to determine. Sunset clause rights are a matter for a solicitor. See off-the-plan settlement in WA.

Trusts, SMSFs and corporate buyers

Purchases through a trust, self-managed super fund or company require the settlement agent to verify trustee or company authorisation before the Transfer of Land can be lodged. Disclose the entity structure at the quoting stage so the right documents are requested from the start. Settlement agents cannot advise on the legal or tax structure of the entity; engage a solicitor and tax professional first.

Strata properties and special conditions

Strata settlements require a strata company levy certificate, an additional statutory cost. Properties with non-standard conditions, such as unusual possession arrangements, simultaneous sale and purchase dependencies, or build contracts attached to a land purchase, involve more coordination. Caveats or other encumbrances on the title also need to be dealt with before settlement. Disclose these at the quoting stage, not after you engage an agent.

How settlement agent fees are regulated in Western Australia

Before February 2016, settlement agent fees in Western Australia were set by a regulated scale. That scale has been removed, but the disclosure rules remain. A settlement agent must give you a written cost disclosure before any agreement is entered into, stating the maximum amount you will be charged, including all fees, commissions, charges and general office disbursements.

Agents can quote as an upfront flat fee, which is not exceeded unless a significant unforeseen issue arises and is communicated to you first, or as a maximum service amount. Incremental or pay-as-you-go quoting exists but is uncommon and mostly suited to off-the-plan or protracted sales. Any increase to the fee must be advised in writing, including by email or text. A change discussed by phone must be followed up in writing.

In practice this means you have the right to a clear written quote before you commit. If a quote is verbal or vague, ask for it in writing before you sign anything.

A licensed and experienced Perth settlement agent knows the Western Australian transfer requirements and works with lenders on your behalf every day, so your purchase or sale is completed correctly with no loose ends.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a settlement agent cost in Perth?

A Perth settlement agent’s fee has two parts: a professional service fee and office disbursements. Statutory charges such as transfer duty and Landgate fees sit on top and are set by government, not the agent. Since fee deregulation in 2016, each agent sets its own professional fee and must disclose the maximum in writing before you engage them. Strategic Settlements quotes a fixed professional fee upfront, itemised with GST, disbursements and the statutory charges for your transaction.

Do buyers and sellers both pay settlement agent fees in WA?

Yes. In Western Australia, buyers and sellers each engage their own settlement agent and pay that agent’s fee separately. The two agents coordinate the settlement but represent their own clients. Fees are not shared between the two sides.

Are settlement agent fees higher for more complex transactions?

Standard residential purchases and sales carry the base professional fee. Where a transaction involves additional steps, your settlement agent should discuss this with you when you provide the transaction details at the quoting stage.

Do I pay settlement agent fees if settlement falls through?

It depends on how much work has been completed and the terms of your cost disclosure. Preliminary work such as title searches, document preparation and lender correspondence may already have been done and may be billed. Ask what applies before you engage an agent.

Can a settlement agent advise on which entity structure to use when buying property?

No. Settlement agents handle the transfer of property. They cannot advise on trust structures, SMSF compliance or corporate law. Engage a solicitor and a qualified tax professional before you make an offer through a trust, SMSF or company.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Strategic Settlements is a licensed settlement agent and cannot provide legal or tax advice, including on capital gains tax or duty concession eligibility. Individual circumstances vary. We recommend consulting a solicitor, a qualified tax professional or RevenueWA before making property decisions.

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Whether you are buying or selling a property in Perth, we aim to make your settlement as easy as possible. As Perth’s leading settlement agents, we quote a fixed professional fee upfront and keep you informed at every step. Get a quote or contact the team today to get started.