If you are looking to buy or sell a property within the UK, the chances are that you will need to have dealings with HM Land Registry at some point. This is because HM Land Registry provides a wide variety of services to the UK property sector, making it an invaluable aid to both property market professionals and members of the public.
What services are provided by HM Land Registry?
The comprehensive range of services offered by HM Land Registry includes title registers, title plans, and conveyancing deeds.
The title register includes information such as the name of the property’s owner, the price paid for the property, and the status of any mortgage secured against it. There is also a title summary, which indicates whether a property is freehold or leasehold, along with a title plan that shows the boundaries of the land owned. There will also be a flood risk indicator for the property.
When a property is entered into the HM Land Registry database, any subsequent changes to ownership are recorded and any changes to mortgages or leases on the property. The main purpose of HM Land Registry is to give homeowners a legal land title to their property, which provides a guarantee of ownership backed by the UK government. This means that when you buy a property, you should first check to see whether it is recorded on the database. If it has been registered, apply to have the ownership details changed to your own; similarly, if no record of the property is found, you should apply for ‘first registration’.
Who is in charge?
HM Land Registry is run by its members, with the overall leadership falling to a board that comprises an independent non-executive chairperson and up to twelve permanent board members. The majority of these members are also non-executive. HM Land Registry is a non-ministerial organisation and is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. HM Land Registry was founded in 1862 and currently operates from 14 locations around the UK.
Why you need HM Land Registry as a property owner
Simply put, the assurances of ownership provided by having your property recorded with HM Land Registry can give you valuable legal security; for example, being registered as your property’s legal owner can defend you from claims made on your property by third parties, such as those hoping to invoke squatters rights. It also protects you from the dangers of property fraud and makes it a lot easier when it comes to selling your home or if you plan to make improvements such as an extension or loft conversion.
If you have any questions about a property that you either own or plan to purchase in the Rugby area, your first port of call should be specialist conveyancing solicitors in Rugby. Conveyancing specialists such as Sam Conveyancing will be able to point you in the right direction. You can find out more about HM Land Registry and locate your local office in England, Scotland or Wales by visiting the official government website.
An important service
It is clear that HM Land Registry provides an extremely important service to the UK property market. Understanding its responsibilities can offer a useful insight into whether you will need to have dealings with this organisation as part of your purchase or sale of a property. Anyone can access the information held by HM Land Registry, although downloading it or requesting a legally admissible copy of a document will incur a small charge.