Green Title vs Survey-Strata Title in WA Explained

Anyone buying property in Western Australia for the first time will quickly run into two title terms that are largely specific to this state: green title and survey-strata title. Both describe ways a piece of land can be owned and registered, but they carry different implications for common property, ongoing obligations and how the land was created in the first place. Understanding the difference before you make an offer helps you ask the right questions during due diligence.

What Green Title Actually Means

A green title lot is a standalone, freehold parcel of land created under WA's Transfer of Land Act, with no shared ownership of any part of the land and no strata company or body corporate involved. The name comes from the historical practice of shading these certificates of title green on Landgate's records. If you buy a green title property, you own the entire lot outright, including the land beneath the dwelling, the driveway and the boundary fences, subject only to any registered easements, covenants or encumbrances that appear on the title itself.

What Survey-Strata Title Means by Comparison

Survey-strata title applies where an existing block of land has been subdivided into smaller lots using a surveyed plan rather than a built-strata plan based on walls, floors and ceilings. This kind of subdivision converts one larger green title lot into several smaller titled lots, and is most commonly used for villas, townhouses and grouped housing developments that sit side by side rather than stacked in a multi-storey building. Each lot still gets its own separate title, similar in most respects to green title, but the subdivision is registered under WA's strata legislation and administered through Landgate's strata and community title system, as set out in Landgate's strata and community titles resources.

The Common Property Question

The practical difference that matters most to buyers is common property. Many survey-strata schemes have little or no shared land, in which case ownership and day-to-day obligations feel almost identical to green title. Others include a shared driveway, shared visitor parking or shared open space, which means a strata company exists, however small, and all owners contribute to its insurance, maintenance and any repairs. Before making an offer on a survey-strata lot, ask specifically whether any common property exists, review the strata scheme's by-laws and recent financial records, and confirm what ongoing levies, if any, apply.

How Survey-Strata Differs From Built-Strata Title

It is also worth distinguishing survey-strata from the more familiar built-strata title used for units and apartments in multi-storey buildings. Built-strata lots are defined by structural elements such as walls, floors and ceilings, and typically involve substantial shared building infrastructure, from lifts to roofs to plumbing risers, all managed collectively. Survey-strata, by contrast, is used for single-tier developments where lots sit side by side on their own piece of land, so the shared infrastructure, if any, is usually limited to access ways or small pockets of open space rather than an entire building structure. Buyers sometimes assume survey-strata carries the same level of shared building risk as an apartment block, when in practice the two are quite different in scope.

Why the Distinction Affects Renovations and Additions

Because a green title lot has no strata scheme attached, an owner generally has more flexibility to renovate, extend or make structural changes without needing approval from a strata company, subject of course to normal council planning and building approval requirements. A survey-strata lot with shared common property may require you to seek consent from the strata company for changes that affect shared areas or the external appearance of a dwelling, even though you hold your own separate title. This is worth understanding before you buy if renovation plans are part of why you are purchasing a particular property.

How This Affects Finance and Insurance

Lenders and insurers generally treat green title and survey-strata title in a similar way when there is no meaningful common property, but a survey-strata lot with shared driveways or shared services may require confirmation of the strata scheme's insurance arrangements as part of your loan approval. It is worth raising this early with your lender and insurer so there are no surprises closer to settlement, particularly if the property is part of a smaller grouped development rather than a single standalone home.

What Your Conveyancer Checks During the Purchase

During a standard residential purchase in Western Australia, your conveyancer or settlement agent will confirm which type of title applies, review any strata scheme by-laws and levies if relevant, and check the title for easements, covenants or notifications that could affect your use of the land regardless of whether it is green title or survey-strata. This due diligence matters just as much for a straightforward green title purchase as it does for a survey-strata lot, since easements and covenants can exist on either type of title.

Which Title Type Suits Which Buyer

Neither title type is inherently better than the other, and the right choice depends on the kind of property you are after. Buyers wanting a fully standalone block with no shared obligations typically look for green title, while buyers interested in villa or group housing developments, which are often more affordable and lower-maintenance, will usually be looking at survey-strata title as a natural part of that property type. Knowing which one applies to a property you are considering, and what it means in practice, is simply part of making an informed offer. If you are comparing several properties across Perth and its surrounding suburbs, it is worth asking the listing agent for the title type upfront, rather than assuming from the property style alone, since some group housing developments are registered as green title where lots were fully subdivided rather than kept under a survey-strata scheme.