What is title insurance?
Protect your greatest asset from a range of property ownership risks with one affordable payment.
Safeguard your property from unknown potential risks.
Buying property is exciting, but it’s also a serious undertaking that comes with risks. Title insurance is a simple policy that could protect you from unknown property ownership risks that threaten your right to occupy and use your land. Read our Important Information and Policy Wording documents for details of title insurance cover, conditions and exclusions.
Avoid costly property ownership risks
One policy covers unknown and unapproved building works plus 20 other property ownership risks. Subject to a cap.
No excess in the event of a claim
There is no excess in the event of a claim. Caps and exclusions apply.
Pay a one-off premium
There are no recurring fees – this one-time premium activates the policy for as long as you own the property.
Want more information on what Title Insurance is?
What are our types of Title Insurance?
We offer the following policies:
Buying Residential Property?
See what we coverBuying Strata Property?
See what we coverBuying Vacant Land?
See what we coverBuying Commercial Property?
See what we coverBuying Rural-Residential Property?
See what we coverWatch how Title Insurance can save you thousands
FAQs
Can't find what you're looking for?
Contact us or call us on 1300 362 178.
Title insurance provides cover for a range of protections including:
- Illegal building works: title insurance provides cover for any structures or renovations built by previous owners without council approval. See the Policy for more details including applicable cap and conditions.
- Incorrect boundary: title insurance provides cover for boundary issues such as structures that have not been built on the true boundary.
- Fraud or forgery: title insurance provides cover for fraud (at the time of purchase or anytime during ownership)
- Other property ownership risks – more details.
- The same items as a home and contents insurance policy. For example, property damage as a result of flooding, storm, fire, pests and vandalism.
- Risks which you create, allow or agree to.
- Risks that do not cause you a loss.
Read our policy carefully and if you decide to proceed, click the Get Cover button and follow the prompts.
Yes. Read our Existing policy carefully. If you decide to proceed, click the Get Cover button and follow the prompts.
No. Undertaking a pest and building inspection is part of the conveyancing due diligence process.
Title insurance does not replace the need to undertake the pest and building inspection. However, pest and building inspections do not always identify unapproved building works. It’s important to disclose any unapproved building works report issues identified in the pest and building report when ordering title insurance.
We offer the following policies to new purchasers and existing owners of:
- Residential property
- Strata property
- Vacant land
- Commercial property (not available to existing commercial property owners)
- Rural-residential property
Title insurance does not expire and protects the property owner (including any beneficiary to whom the title is transferred to after the property owner's death) until it is sold to somebody else.
This document can be found in your contract for sale, look for the following text in the heading:
- NSW – New South Wales Land Registry Services - Title Search
- VIC – Register Search Statement - Volume **** Folio ***
- QLD – Current Title Search
- SA – Certificate of Title - Volume **** Folio ***
- WA – Record of Certificate of Title
- TAS – Result of Search - Recorder of Titles
- ACT – Australian Capital Territory - Title Search
- NT – Search Certificate
- NSW – Please provide the front page of your contract for sale
- VIC – Please provide the first 3 pages of your contract for sale
- QLD – Please provide the first 6 pages of your contract for sale
- SA – Please provide the first 2 pages plus the execution page of your contract for sale
- WA – Please provide the first 2 pages of your contract for sale
- TAS - Please provide the first 6 pages of your contract for sale
- ACT – Please provide the front page of your contract for sale
- NT - Please provide the front page of your contract for sale
Our policyholder undertook a survey in preparation to subdivide their property. The survey revealed several encroachments on 3 sides of the property.
Total cost of claim $51,000.
Get cover
When our policyholder lodged a development application with council, they discovered that the existing garage and carport were built without a permit.
Total cost of claim $100,000.
Get cover
After purchase, our policyholder became responsible for a 36 year old sewerage and buildings works defect. We accepted the claim and covered the rectification costs: $75,000
Get cover2 years after purchasing their property, our policyholder received a notice from council advising that the granny flat and double carport were constructed without approval.
Get coverAfter settling their property, our policyholder in QLD was made aware that their backyard shed never received final building approval. Council issued a notice to rectify. Total cost of claim $30,000.
Get cover4 years after purchasing, our policyholder received a notice from council stating two large verandas and a shed were illegal. Total cost of claim $48,000.
Get coverOur policyholder obtained a survey and discovered a wall had been built on to their property without their knowledge. Total cost of claim $18,000.
Get coverOur policyholder undertook a survey in preparation to renovate the property. The survey revealed that both fence lines were not on the true boundaries.
Total cost of claim $12,000.
Get cover
Don’t just take our word for it
“My First Title coverage paid for itself, and then some, within the first several weeks of settlement. Some bills associated with the property were not paid by the previous owner, which slipped through the cracks when solicitors did their due diligence. It would have cost me over $2,000 but everything was covered by First Title in a timely manner. I highly recommend them.”
Helen, Narooma, NSW
Don’t just take our word for it
“First Title assisted us every step of the way and made sure the financial stress of fixing our boundary issues was kept to an absolute minimum!”
Tim and Linda, WA
Don’t just take our word for it
“More than 5 years after purchasing our first home we were informed by our local council of 4 illegal builds/structures on our property. If it wasn’t for our Title Insurance Policy we would have never been able to afford the repairs to our home and most likely have to demolish a large portion of it. First Title supported and guided us through every step of our claim, making a quite overwhelming situation a lot easier. Thank you First Title.”
Ashleigh and Dean, VIC
