Verification of Identity
New identity checks to reduce land title fraud
 | The Western Australian Registrar and Commissioner of Titles Joint Practice: Verification of Identity (known as the ‘Verification of Identity Practice’) commenced on 1 July 2012 with a six month transitional implementation period.
Full compliance is expected on documents lodged on and after 2 January 2013.
The Verification of Identity Practice is designed to reduce the opportunity for successful land title fraud as a result of identity theft or other improper dealings. It sets out to achieve this by requesting verification of the identity of a person transacting and their authority to deal with an interest in land.
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Click here to download the Verification of Identity brochure.
Further information about ‘Property and Identity Theft – Tips for property owners’ can be accessed here.About the Practice
The new practice applies to paper documents only.
The verification of identity standard required has two base requirements:
(a) Identity Document Production – Production of current, original identity documents from the categories in the Verification of Identity Practice; and
(b) Visual Verification of Identity – A visual ‘face to face’ comparing the photograph on the current original identity documents with the person being identified.
The Registrar and Commissioner of Titles have approved amendments to clause 4.7.4.1 – Statement by Conveyancer/Lawyer/Mortgagee. These amendments resulted from industry feedback as part of the industry training workshops and other discussions. The amendments are effective immediately and are to the substance of the Statement that is to be made by the responsible Conveyancer/Lawyer/Mortgagee and lodged with the relevant document at Landgate.
In accordance with the Verification of Identity Practice, a Statement is required to be lodged with the relevant document.
The amendments to clause 4.7.4.1 can be found here.
The full version of the Practice is located at Chapter 14 in the Land Titles Registration Practice Manual, which is available here.
Note: The full version of the Verification of Identity Practice (dated 23 October 2012) is located in the Land Titles Registration Practice Manual. The term ‘clause’ is replaced with ‘paragraph’. To find clause 4.7.4.1 in the manual, it is located at paragraph 14.4.7.4.1.
The production of current, original identity documents is a fundamental component of the Verification of Identity Practice. Section 14.3 ‘Verification of Identity Standard’ in the Lands Title Registrations Practice Manual clearly outlines the documentation requirements; and specifically, Section 14.3.2 further outlines the documentation in Table 2 – Verification conducted Inside Australia and Table 3 – Verification conducted Outside Australia.
The standard in the Verification of Identity Practice is based upon proposals being considered for nationwide introduction as part of National Electronic Conveyancing.
Frequently Asked Questions
As part of Landgate’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the Verification of Identity Practice, we have provided responses to Frequently Asked Questions.
Self-represented Parties
Information for self-represented parties about the Verification of Identity Practice, including the form for Australia Post, can be found
here.
For all further enquiries, please telephone a Landgate Customer Service Officer on 08 9273 7341 or 1300 556 224 or email voipractice@landgate.wa.gov.au
Useful Links
- Identity security - Government information on identity crime strategies (Australian Govt. Attorney- General's Department
- MoneySmart - Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- WAScamNet - Department of Consumer Protection
- SCAMwatch - Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
- AICWA - Australian Institute of Conveyancers W.A Division
- WAPOL - Western Australia Police Major Fraud Squad