Land Registration Act 2002

 

 

 

 

This act is now in force and is moving the United Kingdom towards a fully computerised Land Registry. Whilst this may be of academic importance to most land owners it should improve the speed at which property transactions can take place and indeed simplify the procedure. However there are one or two changes which might have a significant impact upon landowners.

 

The first of these is the need for each transaction now to have a good quality plan attached to the papers. The plan must be to scale and comply with various requirements of the Land Registry. The need for such plans may result in a building having to be completely re-measured and new plans prepared. Meeting the requirements of the Act is a precise art and should be left to professionals if cost and time is not to be wasted.

 

The second of these is rather more significant. This is for all landowners to ensure that their address on land registry documents is up to date. This is so that The Land Registry can make contact with you if someone tries to alter the Register for your property. This could happen by mistake or if someone is trying to register (adverse possession) squatters rights over your property. The Law has changed on this issue and such rights can be obtained more simply than  in the past. If the Land Registry does not know where to find a land owner because he has moved and failed to notify the change of address then it is possible for the land owner to lose the property or significant rights over it to another party without even being aware of it.