Land Registry and First Registration
The Land Registry is a government organisation that ensures a reliable record of information about the ownership of land and property in England and Wales, including any interests that affect it.
The Land Registry also gives owners a land title guaranteed by the government and provides a title plan indicating general boundaries.
Land Registry
Land or property owners must register all holdings with the Land Registry, including land or property:
- Bought
- Received as a gift
- Inherited
- Exchanged for other property or land
- Mortgaged
All registered property will be published online and will include the owners’ names, the price paid for the property and plans of the boundaries. You can’t opt-out of the Land Registry publishing your property information.
How do I check if my property is registered?
We will be happy to help you with this, or you can search the register yourself for a fee.
When your property has more than one owner, it’s essential to check you have the correct type of joint property ownership so that your Will can dispose of your property as you wish.
Why is my property not registered?
If you (or someone else) owned a property before 1990 and it’s been mortgage-free, it may not be on the register.
If you have bought or want to apply for a mortgage on an unregistered property, you must register it with the Land Registry. Even when you don’t have to register compulsorily, it is still a good idea to register an unregistered property voluntarily.
Make it easier for your loved ones
When a loved one dies, dealing with their estate can be upsetting. It can be more distressing if the property is unregistered and you have to locate the deeds to start registration. If you know that there is a property that may be unregistered in your family, do some research and complete voluntary first registration as soon as you can.
Protect against fraud
Adverse Possession is one of the significant risks of unregistered land; when someone else claims property rights on your land. If your land is unregistered, you may not have the automatic right to object to such an application.
Benefits of Voluntary Registration
There are some benefits to voluntarily registering your property or land with the Land Registry.
By taking this step, you can prove your ownership of the land or property, making it much easier for you to change, sell or give your property away in the future.
Another benefit of registering your land or property is to protect it from fraud. You can track changes to the register and put restrictions on your title through the Land Registry. These steps can help stop fraudsters from illegally selling or mortgaging your property. You may be more at risk from property fraud if:
- You’ve had your identity stolen
- You’ve rented your property to tenants
- There’s no mortgage on the property
- It’s not registered with Land Registry
What if the deeds are lost?
If all or part of the deeds have been lost or misplaced, you can still apply for first registration; usually with a Statement of Truth by the person claiming ownership of the property, who will provide an account of events that resulted in the loss of the title deeds.
We can help
Call or email today, and we will be happy to advise you on your specific situation.
