By Jason Given - June 2026 - 6 min read
A conveyancer (or property solicitor) handles the legal side of buying or selling property. They are separate from your mortgage broker - while we arrange the finance, the conveyancer manages the legal transfer of ownership.
Their job includes reviewing the contract of sale, conducting title searches, checking for any encumbrances or restrictions on the property, liaising with the seller's conveyancer, managing the settlement process, and ensuring the transfer of ownership is registered correctly.
Think of them as the person who makes sure the property you are buying is legally what you think it is, and that the transfer happens cleanly.
In SA, the seller is required to provide a Form 1 (vendor disclosure statement) to the buyer. This document contains essential information about the property including title details, council rates, water rates, any encumbrances or easements, zoning information, and other material facts.
The Form 1 is important because it triggers the cooling-off period. Once you receive it, you have 2 clear business days to review the information and decide whether to proceed. During this period, you can cancel the contract without penalty (other than a small cancellation fee, if specified in the contract).
If you buy at auction, there is no cooling-off period - the contract is binding immediately. This is why it is important to have your conveyancer review the contract and Form 1 before auction day.
In South Australia, conveyancing fees for a standard residential purchase typically range from $800 to $2,000 plus disbursements. Disbursements are the third-party costs your conveyancer pays on your behalf - title searches, registration fees, certificate copies - and usually add another $300 to $600.
Some conveyancers charge a fixed fee, others charge based on the property price. It is worth getting a quote that includes disbursements so you know the total cost upfront. This is a small expense relative to the property price, and trying to save a few hundred dollars by going with the cheapest option is usually not worth the risk.
Most settlements in South Australia now happen electronically through PEXA (Property Exchange Australia). Instead of all parties physically meeting at the Land Titles Office, the documents are signed digitally and funds are transferred electronically. This makes settlement faster and more reliable - fewer things can go wrong when everything is digital.
From your perspective, settlement day means your conveyancer confirms the transfer has been completed, and your agent arranges key collection. You do not need to be present for the settlement itself.
Your broker handles the finance side (loan approval, lender liaison, loan documents) and your conveyancer handles the legal side (contract, title, settlement). The two work in parallel and communicate throughout the process to ensure everything is ready on time.
At Lendology, we coordinate closely with your conveyancer from the moment your offer is accepted. We provide them with the lender's requirements and timing, and they keep us informed of any issues with the contract or title. This teamwork is what keeps settlements running smoothly.
Lendology's approach: We guide you through the entire process from offer to settlement, coordinating with your conveyancer along the way. If you do not have a conveyancer yet, we can recommend one. Book a free chat to get started.
Technically you could handle the legal process yourself, but it is strongly recommended to use a licensed conveyancer or solicitor. The cost is relatively small compared to the property price, and they protect your interests throughout the transaction. They check the title, identify any issues with the property, ensure the contract is fair, and manage the settlement process. In South Australia, most buyers use a conveyancer rather than a solicitor because the fees are typically lower for standard residential transactions.
In South Australia, settlement typically takes 30 to 60 days from the date the contract goes unconditional. The exact timeline is negotiated between buyer and seller and written into the contract. Some settlements can be as quick as 14 days (common for cash purchases or auction wins) or as long as 90 days if one party needs more time. Your conveyancer and broker will coordinate to make sure finance is ready before settlement day.
The Form 1 is a vendor disclosure statement required under South Australian law. The seller must provide it to the buyer before or at the time of entering the contract. It contains key information about the property - title details, council and water rates, any encumbrances or easements, zoning, and other material facts. Once the buyer receives the Form 1, they have 2 clear business days to cool off (cancel the contract without penalty). If no Form 1 is provided, the cooling-off period does not start.