A first registration of title is a process whereby the title deeds of a property are submitted to Land Registry for registration onto the public register. 
Most properties in England and Wales are now registered with the Land Registry. This means that the details of the property are shown on a public database. The details noted include the name and address of the owner of the property and also a plan of the extent of the land owned.
However, a number of properties and land still aren’t registered at the Land Registry. Any property has been transferred since the 1980s is likely to have been registered under a compulsory registration process. However, if a property has not been transferred for valuable consideration or the property has not changed hands since the 1980s then it is likely that the property has what is known as old-fashioned title deeds and documents which is the only evidence of ownership.
Land Registry offers a discount on fees for voluntarily registering a title so as to encourage people to register their title deeds with them.
Most property transactions now trigger compulsory registration of the title at Land Registry. These transactions include purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity and sales.
There is an advantage to the registration of a title at Land Registry. The Land Registry provides a state-backed registration and security of title service. There is no greater protection against the possibility of losing title by adverse possession or by losing your title deeds. Registration of title will grant a property owner a title to a property on a public database and a title registered in the owner's name together with a title plan. This introduces more certainty and simplicity into the conveyancing process when the property comes to be transferred.
Taylor Bracewell has specialist lawyers with years of experience in dealing with unregistered titles. Our Lawyers can advise you on the voluntary registration process or alternatively if your property is being sold or transferred and the title is unregistered, our expert Lawyers can identify and deduce correct title to Land Registry or to a buyer's Conveyancer.
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