Getting your house deeds in the UK can be a bit stressful. Whether you’re buying a new home or selling your old one, it’s essential to know where you stand legally regarding ownership of your property.
If you’ve inherited or bought the property from someone who has passed away and you’re unsure about what exactly is included in their estate, getting your house deeds in the UK is critical for ensuring that everything is clear regarding your responsibilities and your rights as an owner.
Also read: Do I Need A Conveyancing Solicitor To Buy A House?
Here is how to get your house deed in the UK:
The first-time registration process for a house deed
A house deed is a document that proves you own a property. It is provided by the HM Land Registry, which is part of the Government of the United Kingdom.
The first time your house deed will be registered will be when you buy an unregistered house and are ready to move in. You can register at any time, but it’s best to get registered as soon as possible after purchasing a property so that you don’t miss out on any benefits available through registration.
You can get your house deed whenever you want—but it’s best to get one right away when buying a new home because then:
- It helps you avoid being conned and land fraud
- It helps save time during the next property sell
- Acts as proof of ownership
Also read: Step By Step Conveyancing Process
Here are the steps involved in first-time registration:
- First, you’ll need to search for any existing land titles. You can do this by filling out an application form with the Land Charges department at your local council office. The application will require information about the property address and its current owners—including their names, contact details, and proof of ownership.
- Once you’ve submitted your application and paid any required fees, they will send it out for a search by the Land Charges Department. If they find that there are any previous owners after 1925, they’ll return your form with their findings so that you can make appropriate changes or file an appeal with them if necessary.
- Next, you will need to fill out an application form available online or at your local authority office (if it is located nearby). The document includes information about who owns the property and how long they have owned it. It also has other details required by law, such as whether or not there are any mortgages on the property. It will capture details of whether there are any planning issues relating to it (such as planning permission).
- Prepare a drawing to show where the specific land is located
- Pay the correct registration fees and send out your documents to HM Lands Registry
You can register your deed yourself, but if you are not experienced with this kind of thing, we highly recommend you seek legal advice from a conveyancing solicitor who can help you through the process. A conveyancing solicitor will know how to deal with all sorts of tricky situations and ensure everything goes smoothly.
Also read: Online Conveyancing UK: Why Should You Work With Online Property Solicitors
How to get a deed for inherited property in the UK
First, it’s important to note that you don’t need to hire a conveyancing solicitor—you can do it yourself and save money. But if you want to ensure everything goes smoothly, it’s best to involve a professional with experience in this area.
You must fill out all the required documents, which should be pretty straightforward. However, the number of forms needed to be completed is a lot. If you don’t know what forms to fill out, some lawyers specialize in helping people like you get their deeds done quickly and efficiently.
Of course, if you’re not familiar with getting deeds done, there’s no harm in asking for help from someone who does know how to do it. Plus, having a lawyer involved will ensure everything goes smoothly and that all required documentation is filled out correctly.
Also read: The Ultimate Guide To Conveyancing For Estate Agents
How to get a deed for a purchased property
To start, you must fill out all the documents the government requires. These include a first-time registration form and a Transfer of Whole of Registered Title form.
Your conveyancer can help you with this. They know the ins and outs of property transfers.
Also read: What To Look For In A Conveyancing Partner
How to request a copy of the house deed in the UK
You can do it online if you want a copy of your house deed.
To find out if the land is captured in HM Land Registry, search it on the HM Land Registry portal.
You can pay 3 Euros and download a copy of the deed if it is there.
Note that this is a copy and not the original document. An original title deed costs 7 Euros.
Also read: Conveyancing Quality Standards
Conclusion
If you’ve ever gotten your house deeds in the UK, you know that the process can be a bit overwhelming. It’s not just that there’s a lot of paperwork involved—it’s also that you’re dealing with someone else’s property, and they might have different ideas about what to do with it than you do.
That’s why we recommend hiring any conveyancing solicitor who will take care of your house deeds. They’ll know what’s required by law and how to get it done efficiently so that you don’t have to worry about it while they’re handling everything else.
