Title Re-Establishment Survey Melbourne

Are you planning construction work on your property? Do you need help settling a fencing dispute with neighbours? At Stacey Surveying, we can provide a title re-establishment survey for Melbourne domestic and commercial clients. Our licenced land surveyor can verify the exact boundaries of your title, ensuring there are no lingering questions or confusions. Whether you want to know exactly what you can and can’t do or you need confirmation to proceed with construction work, we can provide the assistance you need.

When Do You Need a Title Re-Establishment Survey?

A title re-establishment survey determines and marks the legal position of your property boundaries on the ground. It’s likely you’ll need one if you’re facing any of these common scenarios:

You’re building or extending.

Councils, designers and builders often need to understand where the title boundaries sit before construction, subdivision or design work proceeds. Building over or too close to a boundary can lead to costly redesign, rework, neighbour issues or legal complications. 

You’re putting up a fence along your property line.

A new fence on the wrong line can sour a relationship with your neighbour and create issues when the property goes up for sale.

You’re buying or selling property.

Title boundaries don’t always match existing fences or structures. A survey gives you certainty about what you’re really buying or selling.

You have a dispute or encroachment.

If a neighbour’s fence, tree or structure is on your land (or you’ve been accused of encroaching on theirs), a re-establishment survey provides the independent evidence you need to resolve it. If you’re uncertain if your situation calls for a title re-establishment survey, get in touch and we’ll let you know.

Our Title Re-Establishment Process

Every property is different, but these are the title re-establishment steps we typically follow:

1. Document & Title Review

We start by carrying out title and plan searches through Land Services Victoria and then search for all relevant historical survey information and records within the area of your land.

2. On-Site Survey

A field survey follows. Our team visits your property to locate existing survey marks, fences, walls and other features. We measure these against the historical records to determine where your true boundaries lie.

3. Boundary Marking

Where suitable, we place pegs, marks or other indicators to identify the adopted boundary position on site. We then provide a plan showing the title boundaries, relevant occupation, encroachments if identified, and how existing structures sit relative to the property boundaries. 

4. Certified Plan Delivery

We produce a signed Plan of Re-Establishment, which we submit to the Office of the Surveyor-General. It’s a legally admissible document in Victorian courts that we provide in digital formats such as CAD and PDF.

The timeframes vary depending on the history and complexity of your property, but most residential surveys are completed within a few weeks of engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much does a title re-establishment survey cost in Melbourne?

Costs vary depending on the size of your property, its location, the complexity of the title history and how accessible the boundaries are. A straightforward residential title re-establishment survey in Melbourne typically starts in the low four figures, while larger or more complex sites cost more.

How long does a title re-establishment survey take?

Most residential title re-establishment surveys are completed within two to four weeks from engagement, though this depends on the property’s history and how quickly title and council records can be obtained. Fieldwork typically takes a day, with the bulk of the time spent on research, analysis and preparing your plan. If you have a settlement, build, or council deadline, let us know so we can prioritise the job.

Can my conveyancer do a boundary check instead?

No. Your conveyancer can review the title documents and plan of subdivision, but only a Licensed Surveyor can physically re-establish your boundaries on the ground and confirm where they sit relative to fences, structures and your neighbours’ land.

Can I use this survey for legal disputes?

Yes, a title boundary survey conducted by a licenced surveyor in Victoria can be used as evidence in legal boundary disputes and adverse possession claims. That is because only licenced surveyors are legally permitted to perform such surveys, so their results hold significant legal standing in court.

How accurate are title re-establishment surveys?

A title re-establishment survey is considered to be highly accurate, as it is conducted by a licensed surveyor who utilises modern surveying technologies like GPS and total stations. This combination of expertise and state-of-the-art equipment allows them to identify property boundaries with great precision.