Chapter 2: Titled Investigation of Registered Land Flashcards
(93 cards)
1 Deducing and investigating registered title
This section focuses on deducing and investigating title, which takes place early on in the preexchange stage
1.1 Deducing registered title
The seller’s solicitor gets together the title documents, checks them to ensure that the seller is entitled to sell the property, and sends them to the buyer’s solicitor. The title documents are:
(a) Land Registry official copies of the register
(b) Land Registry title plan
(c) Copies of any documents referred to, but not already extracted in the official copies of the register
Deducing title:
This means the process of proving ownership to a would-be buyer. In this context, title is used in its narrower sense meaning proof of ownership. (The wider sense of title
is to cover all legal issues that a buyer’s solicitor investigates.)
1.1.1 Official copies
1.2 Investigating title
The buyer’s solicitor investigates registered title by checking the Land Registry official copies, title plan and other documents referred to on the register. The aim is to:
* check that the seller has the legal right to sell the property
* ensure the property is adequate for the buyer’s intended use
* ensure that there are no title defects that could affect the value of the property or the ability to sell in future
Remember that:
- The seller’s solicitor deduces title.
- The buyer’s solicitor investigates title.
1.3 Summary
- The seller’s solicitor deduces title, and the buyer’s solicitor investigates title. This process usually happens early on in the pre-exchange stage.
- Land Registry title is evidenced by the official copies of the register, the title plan and copies of any documents referred to in the official copies
- Land Registry official copies comprise three registers within one document
1.3 Summary
- The property register is concerned with the property, the proprietorship register with ownership and the charges register with rights burdening the property
- The buyer’s solicitor investigates the title to ensure that the seller has the right to sell, that the title is adequate for the buyer’s purposes, and that there are no title defects that could affect the value or ability to sell
2 The property register
The first of the three registers is the property register.
2.1 Content of the property register
2.1.1 Property description
As might be expected, the property register is firstly concerned with setting out what the property
comprises, including:
* Whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
* A description of the property by its address and reference to the title plan (usually ‘edged
red’). The buyer’s solicitor should always send the buyer a copy of the title plan so that the buyer can
confirm it agrees with their understanding of the size and location of the land they are buying.
2.1.2 Rights benefiting the property
The property register will also include rights that benefit the property, such as the benefit of easements or covenants.
They may be set out in one of two ways:
* They may be extracted, meaning that all the relevant text is shown, and there is no need to refer to the document itself.
* Alternatively, the property register may refer to a bundle of rights contained in a document which is filed. The seller’s solicitor should provide a copy of any filed documents (either from the pre-registration deeds or from the Land Registry).
2.2 Comparison of extracted right and filed document
2.2.1 Right of way extracted on the register
- (01.09.1969) The land has the benefit of the following right contained in a deed dated 13
February 1955: a right of way on foot only over the land coloured blue on the filed plan.
Note. The land coloured blue is shown hatched black on the filed plan
2.2.2 Right of way contained in a filed document
- (01.09.1969) The land has the benefit of the right contained in a deed dated 13 February 1955.
Note. Copy filed.
2.3 Rights in the Property register - examples
None
Sometimes there may be no rights. This isn’t necessarily a problem. Check the title plan and your search results; for example, that the land has access from a public highway without the need for a private right of way.
Right of way
This will be needed if the property does not abut the public highway without crossing other private land. In old houses, there is sometimes a right of way on foot to a communal outside toilet!
Rights to run services
(‘service media’)
This right may cover gas or water pipes, drains, electrical cables,
optic fibre cables, etc may need to run across neighbouring land.
They will not be necessary if the connection is made direct to the
main pipe, cable etc under the highway.
Right of light
This is the right to enjoy the natural light which passes over someone else’s land and into, say, a window. This right can be granted expressly by deed or acquired by prescription (enjoyed without interruption for 20 years).
Excluded rights
The property register will also refer to rights that are not included.
A common example is an exclusion of the minerals underneath the
land. This should be reported to the buyer but is not usually a
serious issue.
2.4 Further action on rights of way
If the property has the benefit of a right of way, then there are four issues that must be considered:
* registration of the burden
* adequacy
* maintenance
* adoption
2.4.1 Registration of the burden
We know that the benefit of the right of way is registered if it appears on the property register. To be enforceable, the burden must also be registered against the land over which the right of way passes (the servient land).
2.4.2 Adequacy
Adequacy may be legal or physical. For example, a right of way by car only would not suitable for
a warehouse that requires lorry deliveries. On the other hand, a right of way for all vehicles does not help if it is too narrow to be negotiated
by a lorry, so inspection is advisable
2.4.3 Maintenance
Even if the right does not say so, a person using a right of way is obliged in common law to contribute towards its maintenance. Inspection and enquiries should assess how this is likely to affect the buyer.
2.4.4 Adoption
An adopted highway is a public highway maintainable by the local authority at its expense. If a private road is adopted, then the frontagers are required to pay the costs of bringing the road up to adoptable standard.
2.5 Summary
- The property register describes the property and rights benefiting it
- There are different kinds of rights that may be listed
- Further investigation may be required as to registration of the burden of the covenant, adequacy, maintenance and adoption
3 The proprietorship register
The proprietorship provides the class of title, details of the legal owner of the property, and whether there are any restrictions on their ownership.