07/09/2018

Submerged under the vast amount of deeds; wading through the history presenting itself on each document; black ink sitting beautifully on the pale tinged paper with handwriting so bold and proud.

We are about to embark on registering the oldest title deeds in the country for one of our clients and, as you have probably gathered, I find these documents absolutely fascinating pieces of history.

But what’s the point of registering the title deeds of your property at the Land Registry?

Ease

• It gives you your proof of ownership in a convenient, easy-to-read document. Once the property is registered with the Land Registry, all the documents are kept in one place; solicitors, banks or property owners are no longer responsible for storing these important documents. This means delays caused by trying to locate original documentation when an owner comes to sell or re-mortgage a property can be avoided.

Save time and money

• It can save you money! Every disposition of unregistered land, for example if you sell, or mortgage your property it will trigger compulsory first registration. However, if you voluntarily register your land, Land Registry offers a discounted rate for completing the applications.
• It makes conveyancing much easier, quicker and less costly for you because solicitors do not have to review what can be old and lengthy title deeds to establish ownership, rights and encumbrances. This can be particularly helpful when there are time pressures involved in buying or selling a property.
• Boundary disputes are less frequent, less costly to deal with and are more easily defeated once a title is registered.
• Registered land can be valued more quickly and inexpensively.

Protection

• It helps you protect your land from fraud. You are more at risk if your identity has been stolen, you rent out your property, you live overseas, the property is empty, the property is not subject to a mortgage or the property is not registered at the Land Registry.
• If your property is registered you can sign up with the Land Registry to get property alerts if someone applied to change the register of your property, for example if someone tries to use your property for a mortgage.
• You can put a restriction on your title to stop the Land Registry registering a sale or mortgage on your property unless a solicitor certifies the application was made by you.
• Registered titles are protected under a government guarantee.

Comfort

• If you lose or misplace the title deeds you have the comfort of knowing these are registered with the Land Registry, saving any delay, inconvenience or applications to try and reconstitute your title.

Accuracy

• Land Registry provides each title number with an official plan which is more accurate than those in historical deeds.
• With older properties, often some of the deeds have been lost. Voluntarily registering a property is an opportunity to rectify any problems on the title resulting from the missing documents which may put off prospective purchasers.

Your property should be registered if you have bought or mortgaged it since 1998, but if you are not sure whether your property is registered or would like to make an application for voluntary registration, please contact me on 01782 205000 or email sophie.ellis@beswicks.com