Reconstruction or Reconstitution of Title Deeds and First Registrations with HM Land Registry

First Registration with HM Land Registry

Did you purchase your home before 1st December 1990?

If so your Property may not be registered with the Land Registry.  Since 1^st December 1990, all properties being purchased, re-mortgaged or transferred have to be registered officially with the Land Registry.   Up until 1^st December 1990, it was not a legal requirement to do so.

The aim of the rule changes at the start of the 90's was to simplify the conveyancing process and to computerise all title deed records. If your property is not registered with HM Land registry, then, unfortunately,  for those selling or purchasing a property with no legal registered title, a delay in the conveyancing process may occur and in some extreme cases, this can take up to a year to be resolved.

How Can PSR Solicitors help?

PSR Solicitors are offering a fixed fee First Registration Process for you. As soon as you instruct us we can begin the process and then in the future when you decide to sell your house, whether it be in a year of 5 years, you will be ready to move with no delays.

Call us today for further information, we can help register your title now.

What to do when Property Deeds have gone missing or been lost?

If you are looking to sell a property or perhaps transfer the ownership of the property but have no idea where to find the deeds, Perhaps they have been lost or destroyed, or it could be you have recently realised that rightful ownership of the property is not registered with HM Land registry, then the specialist Property Solicitors at PSR can help. 

PSR Solicitors are the largest team of conveyancing & specialist property solicitors in Wales, and we have the specific expertise required to help people who need to re-register property ownership with HM Land Registry.

HM Land Registry report that almost 15% of properties located within England and Wales are still un-registered. 

Reconstitution of Property Title Deeds

Few conveyancers have the experience to deal with the Reconstitution of Title Deeds as they are not being dealt with on a daily basis.  It is therefore important for homeowners to use only qualified and experienced conveyancers who have the necessary knowledge of dealing with the matter in hand.

Toni Jones, our Conveyancing Manager based in our Ellesmere Port office is currently working with a number of clients where they are applying for the reconstitution of title deeds.  She explains that the whole process can be extremely complex and involves a considerable amount of time, detailed research and investigation.

The whole purpose of a Reconstitution of Title is to effect First Registration of the Legal Title.  The process is like a huge jigsaw puzzle and the conveyancer must put together all the missing pieces to provide HM Land Registry with enough evidence to show legal ownership of the property.

The person applying for registration must provide evidence to the conveyancer to show how the original title deeds were either lost or destroyed.  They must show evidence by way of utility bills, bank statements, mortgage statements, personal documents, and insurance policies etc to show continued ownership of the property from the date they state that the property was purchased up to the date of the application to register.

Once the conveyancer has obtained sufficient evidence of ownership, the person making the application must complete and swear a Statement of Truth explaining how they purchased the property or came into ownership of the property, how the original title documents were lost and how they still own the property.

Once all evidence is collated, an application to the Land Registry will be made on behalf of the applicant by the appointed conveyancer and once the Land Registry has confirmed sufficient evidence has been reproduced, they will register title to the property.   

The legal costs for carrying out the Reconstitution of Title will be £750 plus VAT and disbursements which will include HM Land Registry’s Registration Fee, which is dependent upon the value of the property)

For more details on the Reconstitution of Title, please call Toni Jones on 0151 705 1700.