Settlement is the day the property officially changes hands. Most buyers picture a room and a stack of documents to sign; in modern Australian practice it's usually invisible to you, handled electronically by your conveyancer while you get on with your day. This is where it sits in our start-to-settlement guide, and you can work the run-up with our settlement checklist.
The week before
About five to seven days out, your conveyancer orders final title, rates, water, and land tax searches, calculates the rate adjustments, confirms the loan funds with your lender, prepares the transfer documents, and coordinates the discharge of the vendor's mortgage. In the last few days they'll confirm the date and time, the exact balance you need to provide (your deposit plus loan may not cover the full price), and where to send it.
The day before
Three things are on you. Transfer any balance payment so it's in the trust account before the day, not on it. Do your pre-settlement inspection (your right within seven days of settlement): confirm the condition matches signing, the included chattels are present, and nothing's been damaged or removed. If anything is wrong, tell your conveyancer immediately, because their options disappear after settlement. And have building insurance ready to start on the settlement date, since the building becomes your responsibility from then.
On the day
Settlement happens electronically through PEXA, with your bank, your conveyancer, and the vendor's side all in one workspace. Through the morning the banks confirm funds and everyone signs off electronically. At the scheduled time (usually a 30-minute window) your bank releases the loan funds, the vendor's mortgage is discharged, the vendor receives the balance, and the title transfer is lodged with Land Use Victoria. It takes a few minutes and you see none of it.
Your conveyancer then calls or emails to confirm. From that moment you're the legal owner with the right to possession, your loan is drawn down, and the agent releases the keys, usually at a set time, often early afternoon.
After you get the keys
Walk through with your phone and photograph every room and appliance as a condition record. Test the basics: taps, toilets, stove and oven, hot water, lights and power points, heating and cooling, and the smoke alarms. If something doesn't work, document it, since you may have recourse for missing or broken included chattels; our guide on problems after settlement covers the options.
Then set up the admin: electricity, gas, water, and internet (which can take a week or more on a new NBN connection), and update your address for the driver's licence (within 14 days, via VicRoads), Medicare, the electoral roll, banks, super, and insurance. Your conveyancer usually notifies council of the ownership change, but confirm it, and chase the rates notice if it hasn't arrived in your name within a couple of months.
If settlement is delayed
Delays happen: a discharge not released in time, funds not ready, a last-minute title issue, or a PEXA glitch. Most are short, hours not days, and the standard contract allows penalty interest against the party at fault. A more serious delay usually resolves as settlement the next business day, compensation, or, rarely, a voided contract. This is your conveyancer's territory; let them handle it.
What you don't need to do
Plenty that people stress about isn't on you: attending settlement (it's electronic), dealing with the vendor's bank, calculating stamp duty (your conveyancer pays it from your funds), lodging the transfer, or notifying Land Use Victoria. You just need to be reachable, have your funds in place, and collect the keys.
For most buyers settlement is anticlimactic: after months of inspections and paperwork, becoming an owner is a phone call saying "you're settled" and a trip to pick up keys. The real moment comes later, the first night in the place knowing it's yours. Have something nice planned for the evening. You've earned it.
Sources
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Property settlement: the regulator's guidance on the settlement process, adjustments, and stamp duty.
- Land Use Victoria: Property and land titles information: the land registry where the transfer of title is lodged and recorded (electronically, via PEXA).
Sources verified 25 July 2026.
General information only. This article is not legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed conveyancer, solicitor, or financial adviser before making decisions about your specific situation.
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