Land registration is the process that is used to identify and record interests in land, including freehold, leasehold or other interests. It is usually undertaken by a local authority.
The Land Registry was created in 1997 and now provides a digital system for identifying who owns property. This information includes deeds and legal documents that have been registered on behalf of the owner(s).
Land registration is a legal requirement for freehold property and must be completed for any form of land transaction, such as buying or selling. However, there are certain cases when the sale or transfer of a property can proceed without being registered. The Land Registry provides clear guidance on this matter.
The next step in registering your land depends on the type of interest that you have, and the purpose for which it was acquired.
If the land is registered (under h.l.c.) the registration must be in the name of all of the owners as joint tenants . Any proceeds arising from selling this property would need to be split accordingly between all parties named within a joint tenancy agreement.
If you have acquired the property under a legal agreement, such as a Trust or Will and want to register this on land registry, you would need to use an application form titled ‘Application for first registration of title following charge’. This option would enable one transfer document to be filed that is also accompanied by plan(s).
The Land Registry is an organisation that manages land registration.
This can be done by visiting the website at https://www.gov.uk/land-and-property-services/land-registry