Page 10 - Town & Around - March 2024

10 Town & Around March 2024 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
7 reasons to register your property

By Chris Cosgrave, Solicitor, Hayes + Storr
early 10 per cent of land in England will need to check ownership through several
and Wales has never been registered at documents.
NHM Land Registry, usually because 3. A class of title and state-backed guarantee
the owner bought the property a long time ago Properties are registered with one of three
or inherited it. This could put you at a classes of title. The most acceptable and most
disadvantage in future if you decide to sell or common, is ‘title absolute’.
remortgage. Registration also carries a state-guarantee
If you have the documents from your which means that HM Land Registry will
original purchase these will show whether the compensate those who suffer loss resulting 7. Protection against fraud
title to your property is registered. from a mistake on the land register. You can apply for the entry of a restriction
Below we have highlighted several reasons 4. Conveyancing is quicker and more against your registered title at HM Land
why it is important to make sure your property straightforward Registry, which can be especially useful if
is registered. A registered title shows clearly who the your property is empty or you do not have day-
1. It is easier to prove ownership owner is, and which rights or mortgages affect to-day control over it.
Once registered, each property has its own the property. This makes conveyancing There is no equivalent protection for
title information document and plan. A simpler and quicker. unregistered land, where possession of the
solicitor acting for a buyer can obtain these 5. Third parties may prefer registered land deeds can be taken as proof of ownership.
quickly and cheaply and check the details of With registered property you may find it How we can help
the registered owners and other matters easier to remortgage. Lenders will find it easier We have extensive experience of dealing
affecting the title such as covenants. to check your title and to get a quick overview with both registered and unregistered land. If
When a property has not been registered, of your property. your property is unregistered, we can apply to
ownership is proved to a potential buyer using 6. Protection against adverse possession HM Land Registry to register it on your
the original paper documents. This can be Adverse possession is where a person with behalf.
complicated and paper documents are no true ownership of land can claim ownership For further information, please contact Chris
sometimes lost or destroyed. by virtue of their occupation. It is harder for a Cosgrave in the residential property team on
2. Investigate title squatter to displace the owner of registered 01328 863231 or email
Ownership of a registered property is clearly land. chris.cosgrave@hayes-storr.com.
set out in HM Land Registry’s title information With a registered property, HM Land This article is for general information only
document and it is easy to check the plan Registry will notify the registered owner, and does not constitute legal or professional
showing the property’s boundaries. which gives them the opportunity to object and advice. Please note that the law may have
With an unregistered property, a solicitor remove the squatter. changed since this article was published.