Section 603 Certificate Property Enquiry Application

Section 603 of the Local Government Act 1993 lets a council issue a certificate stating the amount (if any) of rates, charges and other amounts due or payable to the council for a parcel of land. Section 603(2) requires the application to be accompanied by the approved fee, which the Office of Local Government sets each year; councils may charge a separate fee for expedited processing. Conveyancers order the certificate before settlement so outstanding rates and charges can be paid or adjusted between vendor and purchaser. This is Bega Valley Shire Council's form, which offers standard processing (allow 5 business days) or priority processing within 24 hours or 3 hours.

When you need it

• You are buying or selling land in the Bega Valley and need the rates and charges figure for settlement.
• You act for a purchaser, vendor or lender and need written confirmation of what is owed to the council on the land.

1. 1

   Choose the speed

   Cross Standard (allow 5 business days), Priority 24 hours or Priority 3 hours.

2. 2

   2 Applicant's name

   Full name, postal address, phone, mobile, fax and email, and your DX number and reference if you are a solicitor or conveyancer.

3. 3

   3 Property location

   Lot, section and DP or SP, house or unit number or property name, street, town, parish, county and postcode, the nearest cross street and side of street, whether the lot is vacant, the nature of the land and its frontage, depth and area.

4. 4

   4 and 5 Subdivisions and other references

   For a new subdivision give the subdivider, the street name before subdivision, the subdivision certificate number and the earlier lot and DP. Add any folio, deed or Crown tenure number.

5. 5

   6 Registered proprietor, vendor and purchaser

   Give the registered proprietor's name and address, the purchase price, the purpose of the enquiry, and the vendor and purchaser details. Add the date requested, your firm and a contact.

• Lodge at the council office in Bega, post to PO Box 492, Bega NSW 2550, or send by DX to DX 4904 Bega. Phone (02) 6499 2222.
• Payment is required when you lodge. The form says to phone (02) 6499 2222 for credit card payments.
• The approved fee for a section 603 certificate is set each year by the Office of Local Government; priority processing costs extra. Check the council's current fees.

• Order the certificate close enough to settlement that the figures are still current, but early enough to allow 5 business days.
• Bega Valley has a separate form for a special water meter reading if you want water usage brought up to date before settlement.