The Reason for Verification of Identity
In 2014, a Canberra property owner who was living overseas was blindsided when she found out that her property had been sold several months before without her knowledge. The woman found out about the sale of her property after contacting her property manager as she had stopped receiving rental payments.[1]
This incident has prompted extreme changes to the real estate and conveyancing industries. Most states, including South Australia (as of 27th April 2015)[2], now require that an individual undertakes a Verification of their Identity before they can sell or purchase a property.
This enables lawyers and conveyancers the confidence that the client they are acting for has the Authority to deal with the land.
Verifications of Identity can be an onerous task, with the requirements of certain documents being paramount. If a person does not have a Birth Certificate or Passport the task becomes more difficult and time consuming.
With Verification of Identity being compulsory it has become important that clients have access to the correct identity documents when they begin to deal with the property, the easiest and most common combination being a Drivers Licence and Passport.
Each category below shows the minimum documents required to complete a Verification of Identity:
| Category | Minimum Document Requirements – For Persons who are Australian citizens or residents: |
| 1 | An Australian passport or a foreign passport
plus an Australian Driver’s Licence or Photo Card plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary. |
| 2 | An Australian passport or a foreign passport
plus full Birth Certificate or Citizenship Certificate or Descent Certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary |
| 3 | Australian Driver’s Licence or Photo Card
plus full Birth Certificate or Citizenship Certificate or Descent Certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary |
| 4 | (a) Australian passport or foreign passport
plus another form of government issued photographic identity document plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary. (b) Australian passport or foreign passport plus full Birth Certificate plus another form of government issued identity document plus a Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary. |
| 5 | (a) Identifier Declaration
plus full Birth Certificate or Citizenship Certificate or Descent Certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary. (b) Identifier Declaration by a person specified in clause 6.3.1(e) plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus Change of Name or Marriage Certificate if necessary. |
This short blog only touches the surface of Verification requirements, if you would like further information please contact Nick Rowe at Kelly Kelly Legal.
This article was written by Nick Rowe.
[1] Natasha Boddy, ‘Canberra property scam victim sues government for compensation’, Canberra Times, 12 August 2016, [online] https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/canberra-property-scam-victim-sues-government-for-compensation-20160623-gpqhwp.html
[2] Registrar-General’s Verification of Identity Requirements, Land Titles Office, 27 April 2015
