How do I know if my house is on the Land Registry?

If you have access to your title deeds and your home is registered with the Land Registry then you will either have a blue Charge Certificate or the Land Certificate on Beige paper. These certificates are proof that your house is registered on the Land Registry.

The Land Registry is the department in the UK government responsible for keeping the official records of land and property ownership in England and Wales. Initially, registering a property with the Land Registry was voluntary but the Land Registration Act 1925 was amended in 1990, making it compulsory to register any transfer of land or property.

This law was replaced by the Land Registration Act of 2002 which increased the instances that make it obligatory to notify the Land Registry of any changes in property or land ownership. In short, it is now compulsory for all land and property that is bought, gifted, inherited or mortgaged in England and Wales to be registered at the Land Registry.

If you do not have Land Registry documents, you can also check on the GOV.UK website. Simply navigate to the “land and property information” search page and enter your postcode. You can also search by street or town and if your house is registered, then it will be listed on the website. Clicking on the appropriate address allows you to order a download of an official and up-to-date property summary, title register, or title plan.

Property summaries include information such as the property’s description, its address, type of tenure, and whether there are any planning permission restrictions in place. Title plans are the documents that detail a property’s boundaries and its general location. 

Title registers usually include details of who owns the property, its title number, information on whether there is a mortgage on the house, and details of any restrictions or easements. Easements are the rights one property has over another, such as providing clear information about a property’s boundary in a dispute about who has right of way. 

Before you download any documents you will need to be registered on the GOV website and a £3 fee applies for each report ordered.

There are a couple of reasons why a property may not appear on the land registry. For example, if you owned your home prior to 1990 and have not remortgaged since then, your property may not be listed. However, getting your property listed on the land registry is straightforward.

At GloverPriest, we provide friendly and transparent legal advice. If you would like further advice on your property, please don’t hesitate to speak to one of our expert lawyers today. Complete our enquiry form.