If you are unsure whether your property is registered or unregistered, you can access this information freely from the official GOV.UK website at https://search-property-information.service.gov.uk/search/.
A good starting point would be to check the property summary information by entering your postcode and seeing if your address is listed on the website. This would provide you with some basic information which has been recorded at the Land Registry such as: the property description, the tenure type (freehold/leasehold), how much the property last sold for/value stated and whether there are any restrictive covenants (restrictions) or easements (rights granted).
However, if you cannot locate your property address on the GOV.UK website then it is likely that your property is unregistered and so the next step would be to instruct a property solicitor who can assist you.
A property solicitor will carry out a title check and if it is unregistered then they can assist you with regard to registration of the title. The fact that your title is unregistered will not mean that you cannot proceed with a sale but it would be advisable to provide your solicitor with the original title deeds for them to check whether you have all the relevant documents and clear title to proceed.
If you have lost your deeds or there are missing deeds, then it could be very difficult to prove ownership of the property and this will cause significant delays on a sale. Our advice, in these circumstances, would be to ensure that your property is registered before starting to market your property for sale as this will allow for a smooth transaction process.
At Wollens, we can help you ensure that your property is registered successfully at the Land Registry and our team have considerable experience dealing with transactions ranging from simple to complex. Instructing Wollens at the outset could save you a lot of time and money.
For further information, please contact our conveyancing team :
We have offices across Devon
South Devon 01803 213251
Exeter 01392 274006
North Devon 01271 342268
Email us us [email protected]
