The information provided in this guide is not intended to amount to legal advice. Professional assistance may be required to determine the most appropriate action to protect your legal rights. Please read our Terms of Use on the Land Titles Registration policy and procedure guides web page. Landgate accepts no responsibility where parties print this guide and seek to rely on information that is out of date.
1. Overview
Name Suppression is available to eligible people to apply to the Registrar of Titles to have their name suppressed from Landgate’s searching indexes and data extracts. This is contained in the Transfer of Land Regulations 2004. The Name Suppression service is available only to people who can prove they are at risk of personal harm should their details be easily discoverable.
The land titles register is an open, public searchable register created under the Transfer of Land Act 1893. The land titles index enables the public and professionals to search the register and obtain information about property owned by individuals. This information is often an indication of where people live, and discovery may place some property owners at risk.
A successful application for Name Suppression will not change a record in the land titles register. It will, however, remove a suppressed name from name searching indices and from datasets/data extracts administered by Landgate.
Name Suppression prevents enquirers from using a suppressed name as a starting point from which to discover an address. It will not completely prevent a Name Suppression applicant’s details from being discovered, because a suppressed name (and address) may still be discovered by using other search criteria such as an address, undertaking a title search or a lot on plan search.
Registration fees are not payable on the lodgement or removal of a Name Suppression.
1.1. Suppression of Sale Price or Sales Evidence4
The Land Titles Registry in WA under the Transfer of Land Act 1893 (TLA) is an open public registry. The TLA has no provisions within it to suppress information such as sales evidence or sale prices and we are unable to prevent the disclosure of Sales information distribution to external property-based websites.
Should you wish to have this information removed from such websites, you would be best to speak directly to that organisation.
4Section added 02/02/2024
2. Eligibility for Name Suppression
People who are eligible for Name Suppression are people (and/or their family members) who have been subjected to direct threats of violence. However, if you can prove that you have become a silent elector then this will remove the need to establish to the Registrar of Titles that you have been subject to direct threats of violence.
Applicants are eligible if they:
- own a property
- hold an interest in property
- have lodged a purchaser’s caveat over property
or
- are a donor or donee (attorney) of a Power of Attorney lodged with Landgate.
All applicants must provide evidence of their eligibility. For applicants who are a silent elector registered with the Western Australian Electoral Commission and/or the Australian Electoral Commission, production of proof of Silent Elector Status is sufficient that a threat exists.
The nature of an applicant’s occupation does not itself give rise to a right to have that person’s name suppressed under the requirements for having their name suppressed.
3. How to Apply for Name Suppression 1
To apply you will need the Name Suppression Application Pack and forms which can be obtained:
- online by downloading an Application pack containing links to the forms from
- by telephone request on +61 (0)8 9273 7373 for an Application Pack be posted to you
or
- collect an Application Pack from Landgate’s Midland or Perth offices.
If you are a silent elector registered with the Electoral Commission, you will need to complete and submit the Application for Name Suppression form and a statutory declaration to verify your identity in relation to the certificate of title or any other document to which you wish the suppression to apply, and to confirm that you are the same person as identified in your silent elector letter from the Electoral Commission. You will need to sign the statutory declaration in the presence of an authorised witness.
If you are not a silent elector you also need to complete the Application for Name Suppression form and statutory declaration however the declaration in addition to verifying your identity in relation to the certificate of title or any other document to which you wish the suppression to apply, will need to state why you believe that you or your family are at risk of harm and provide evidence to substantiate your claim. You will need to sign the statutory declaration in the presence of an authorised witness.
There is no registration fee payable for the lodgement of an Application for Name Suppression. Your application will be considered by a delegate of the Registrar of Titles and you will be notified of the outcome in writing
For additional questions not covered by the Application Pack, your enquiry can be emailed to NSO@landgate.wa.gov.au
1 Section updated 02/09/2020
4. How to Submit your Application for Name Suppression
Your original application and all related documents must be posted in a sealed, secure envelope addressed to:
‘CONFIDENTIAL’
Landgate
Name Suppression Officer
PO Box 2222
MIDLAND WA 6936
To ensure confidentiality do not put your name on the envelope. Your name should appear only on the application form and on any supporting documentation.
You may also hand deliver your application form and supporting documentation to Landgate’s Midland office.
5. Extent of Name Suppression
A suppressed name will remain suppressed until a formal withdrawal of suppression request has been completed by the applicant and processed by Landgate. Applicants of a withdrawal of suppression request will need to provide evidence to satisfy a 100-point identification check.
There is no registration fee payable for a withdrawal of a name suppression.
You will need to make a new Application for Name Suppression if:
- you acquire new property or interests in land,
- you lodge a new purchaser's caveat,
- and/or you become a donor or donee (attorney) of a Power of Attorney lodged with Landgate,
- you change your name
- you subdivide your land (of a title with an existing name suppression),
If you transfer your land the subject of an existing name suppression to another person.your name as an ‘Ex Owner’ will be remain suppressed).
26. Who can access my suppressed details other than Landgate?
Authorised government agencies such as the Australian Taxation Office, Child Support Agency, Centrelink, RevenueWA and Police will have access to suppressed details, as well as customers that can provide a legitimate business use for requiring suppressed details, e.g. Executors/Administrator appointed under a will/Letters of Administration or court order.
Data provided to Landgate customers prior to your Name Suppression taking effect will still show your details. However, the small group of customers that can access your details will be bound by contract or law not to reveal any information.
2 Section 6 added 02/09/2020