Land title lodgements
Conveyancing transactions and changes to land title ownership are lodged with the ACT Land Titles Office (LTO) for recognition on the ACT Land Titles Register.
The ACT Land Titles Register is the official record of who owns property in the ACT including registered interests on the property such as a mortgage or caveat.
Read about searching the ACT Land Titles Register.
Use the Land Titles Practice Manual [DOCX 2.7MB].
Lodgements can be made by:
- self-represented parties
- legal practitioners or financial institutions acting on behalf of their clients.
Forms and guidance notes
Access Canberra provides guidance notes to help you correctly fill in forms.
Fees are updated on 1 July of every year.
View all land title lodgement forms and fees.
Seller verification declaration form
You must use the Seller verification declaration form if you are selling land and lodging any of the following:
- Determination/surrender of a Crown Lease
- Notice of appointment/retirement of trustee
- Transfer
- Transmission application (only in cases of bankruptcy).
Buyer verification declaration form
You must use the Buyer verification declaration form if you are buying land and lodging any of the following:
- Application to register a Crown Lease
- Notice of appointment/retirement of trustee
- Transfer by power of sale
- Transfer
- Transmission application.
Self-representation
Self-Represented Parties are individuals who want to prepare and lodge their own documentation with the LTO.
Use one of the Self-Represented Party Lodgement Packs:
- Self-Represented Party Lodgement Pack 1 Categories 1-4 and 6(a) and 6(b) [PDF 1.5 MB]
- Self-Represented Party Lodgement Pack 2 Categories 5(a) and 5(b) – Identifier Declaration [PDF 567 KB]
If you choose to self-represent yourself in the lodgement process, you have 2 options:
- Make an appointment to lodge them in person with the LTO.
- Prepare your documentation and engage a lodging agent to lodge them on your behalf.
Make an appointment
The LTO is located at the Dickson Specialised Centre, 480 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson ACT. To attend the Specialised Centre, you must make an appointment.
You can book an appointment online.
Verifying your identity
As a Self-Represented Party, you are responsible for verifying your identity per the Land Titles (Verification of Identity) Rules 2020.
To have your identity verified you will need to see an ‘Authorised person’ to certify your documents. An Authorised person is:
- an Identity Agent
- a Justice of the Peace
- a Legal Practitioner
- a Notary Public.
Verifying your authority to deal on the land
You also need to provide evidence that you have the authority to deal on the land per the Land Titles (Verification of Authority) Rules 2020.
Examples include:
- a current ACT rates document or utility bill
- a copy of the contract of sale
- loan documentation.
The LTO will only accept your lodgement if you include:
- your identity documents
- the certification of your identity by an Authorised person
- documents linking you to the property.
The LTO will check your documents before accepting the lodgement.
Legal practitioners and financial institutions
Legal practitioners and financial institutions can use electronic conveyancing (e-conveyancing) to lodge documentation.
They must verify your identity first, and also gain your authority to transact on your behalf.
E-conveyancing
The ACT uses an e-conveyancing platform called PEXA to streamline the property transaction process.
Under the Electronic Conveyancing National Law (ACT) Participation Rules 2021 only your legal practitioner or financial institution can use e-conveyancing.
If your representative is a PEXA subscriber you can track the settlement through a smartphone app.
Read about e-conveyancing for lawyers and banks.
ACT Land Titles Bulletins
Access Canberra publishes bulletins to let you know about new procedures and current issues that affect the LTO.
2023
2022
- Land Titles Bulletin - December 2022 [PDF 377 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - May 2022 [PDF 160.4 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - December 2021 [PDF 177 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - October 2021 [PDF 99 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - June 2021 [PDF 217 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - April 2021 [PDF 148 KB]
- Land Titles Bulletin - February 2021 [PDF 254 KB]
ACT Participation Rules Waiver
- ACT Participation Rules Waiver Revocation - 8 May 2023 [PDF 143KB]
- ACT Participation Rules Waiver - 3 November 2022 [PDF 266KB]
- ACT Participation Rules Waiver - 24 June 2022 [PDF 214KB]
- ACT Participation Rules Waiver - 15 October 2021 [PDF 260KB]