There are two land systems In England and Wales – registered land and unregistered land. If a piece of land and ownership of it is recorded on the Land Register it’s registered land. When a property gets registered, the title is “guaranteed” by the Land Registry. The Register is open to the public and can be accessed by anyone.
If land is unregistered then it hasn’t been recorded at the Land Registry. A transaction would trigger an application for mandatory registration. If you own unregistered land, it is very important to keep all the original deeds safe as they are your only proof of ownership.
Registered land’s advantages over its unregistered counterpart, include:
- Clearer and more certain ownership and matters affecting the title. The Land Registry provides a state guarantee of title and may pay compensation if there is a mistake in the register
- Quicker and more straightforward conveyancing.
- Making your land ready for sale and making it more marketable as buyers often expect a land to be registered before they proceed with a transaction.
- Not being worried about any deeds being lost or destroyed
- More protection against property fraud – the Land Registry requires confirmation of identity before registering a transfer of property.
If you haven’t registered your land we would strongly advise you to do so. If you would like to discuss the possibility of getting your land registered, please call us on 01202 877400!
