What happens if a property is not registered?

If a property is unregistered it can be hard to find the legal owners as there is no central record of ownership to search. If a property is not registered at the Land Registry when a sale is completed, the law requires that it must be registered on completion of the sale of the property by the purchaser.

What does it mean if a property is not registered with the Land Registry?

If your property isn’t registered, it doesn’t mean there is a problem with your ownership – it simply means there hasn’t been a transaction to trigger the requirement to register since it became compulsory for your area. To sell an unregistered property you need to produce the physical title deeds.

Can you claim unregistered property?

When someone wants to claim ownership of land that’s not theirs, it is called Adverse Possession. To claim Adverse Possession you would need to make an application to the Land Registry. The Land Registry have a strict set of criteria you must meet before you can claim land you do not own.

What happens if land is unregistered?

Unregistered Land – Summary: If the property is unregistered, no information will be held about the property, including who the owner of the land is. When it comes to unregistered land, the owner must demonstrate their ownership of the property through what is called a ‘root of title’.

Can you own unregistered land?

Unregistered land is available for purchase, but it can take significantly longer to purchase than registered land. The legal requirement of ‘First Registration’ in these cases can be a considerable setback for the purchaser. First, the seller of the land must find the title deeds, which prove original ownership.

How do you prove ownership of unregistered land?

The first thing to do is to obtain the title deeds. As the land is unregistered it is the paper title deeds which prove ownership and they will be required in order to check the seller’s title and prove title to the buyer.

Who holds deeds to property?

The title deeds to a property with a mortgage are usually kept by the mortgage lender. They will only be given to you once the mortgage has been paid in full. But, you can request copies of the deeds at any time.

When did it become compulsory to register property?

1990
However, the Land Registration Act 1925 made registration compulsory and it was gradually phased in until by 1990 any transfer of land or property triggered the need to register it at the Land Registry.

How do I find out who owns an unregistered property?

There is no quick or simple way to locate the owner of a piece of unregistered land; and there is no way to compel an owner of unregistered land to show you their deeds without a court order. Put simply, dealing with unregistered land that you do not own can be very difficult.

What happens if a property is not registered at Land Registry?

If a property is not registered at the Land Registry when a sale is completed, the law requires that it must be registered on completion of the sale of the property by the purchaser. This will be done by the purchaser’s solicitors as part of the conveyancing process.

What does it mean when a property is unregistered in UK?

‘Unregistered’ with regards to a land registry search in the UK simply means that the land is not registered with HM Land Registry (in England and Wales) or Registers of Scotland (in Scotland) or the N.Ireland Land Registry (in N.Ireland). It does not mean that the land is not owned by anyone, and it does not mean that the address is not valid.

Can I sell unregistered land that I do not own?

Put simply, dealing with unregistered land that you do not own can be very difficult. Thankfully, registration of land is now compulsory on sale and certain other dealings, so the vast majority of land in the UK is registered with the Land Registry and it is very easy to prove ownership.