Before buying a property in England and Wales it is very important to be aware of the full details of the property such as the history of the property, ownership rights, and any disputes over the property etc. If you want to get information about a property, this post will give you complete information about how to get it.
What You Can Discover
The UK Government’s HM Land Registry can provide you with a wealth of information about land properties in England and Wales. By using their online services you can get information about the following three important things:
- Asset Summary:
- Address: Full address and contact details of the person in whose name the said property is.
- Description: Find out the type of property (eg detached house, terraced house).
- Tenure: Get information about ownership structure (freehold or leasehold) etc.
- Restrictive covenants: Are there any restrictions on the use of the property (eg building restrictions).
- Accessibility: Find out if the property has rights over neighboring land (eg right of way) or if the property is subject to any other restrictions.
- Registered Ownership:
- Detailed details of the current and previous owners of the property can be found.
- Find out if there are any encumbrances or covenants on the property.
- You will get information about the history of the property and what changes have been made to it.
- Assessment and Taxation:
- Find out what is the current market value of the property.
- Information on how much local tax is levied on the property is also available.
- The tax history of the property can be seen.
The Title Register
If you want A to Z information about a property, the Register of Titles is a great source for that. This document can give you information about the property ownership, price, mortgage and many other things.
What is included in the Title Register?
- Title Number: This is a unique number that identifies a particular property.
- Ownership: This shows who is the current owner of the property.
- Sale price: If the property has been sold recently, the sale price may be shown in the title register.
- Presence of mortgage: It checks whether any mortgage is registered on the property.
- Restrictive covenants and easements: The title register describes in detail any restrictions or rights associated with the property. In some cases, it may not cover all the details, but it will direct you to relevant documents.
The Title Plan
A title plan is a document that shows the position and boundaries of your property. It is a kind of visual aid that helps you understand the geographical structure of your property.
How a title Plan is useful:
- Property Location: The title plan shows you the exact location of your property. It can show complete information including roads, street numbers and names of nearby buildings.
- Boundaries: The plan clearly shows the boundaries of your property. This helps separate your property from neighboring properties.
- Size : The title plan shows the size of your property. This plan helps you estimate your property better and compare it with other properties.
- Terrain Features: The plan can show any terrain features on your property, such as slopes, slopes or water levels.
- Part of a development: The plan can tell you whether your property is part of a larger development. This can help you learn more about future development and how it may affect your property.
- Amenities: The plan shows information about what amenities are available near your property, such as gardens, parks, schools or shops.
- Accessibility: The plan can show you how easy access is to your property. It shows distance from roads.
- Privacy: The plan can show you the privacy level of your property. This takes into account proximity to neighboring properties and any obstructions.
- Noise level: The plan can show you the potential noise level of your property. This takes into account nearby roads, businesses and other noise sources.
Important Considerations
Your property summary, title plan and title register can be downloaded using online services. But in some cases you may need an official certified copy of the register, for which you will have to pay some fee. This certificate is required to be produced as proof of ownership of the property in legal proceedings.
For example:
- If you are selling your property then the buyer will need to show a certified copy as proof of ownership of the property.
- If you are taking a loan from a bank, the bank will have to show you a certified copy as proof of ownership of the property.
- If you are insuring your property, the insurance company will need to show a certified copy of your property as proof of ownership.
Venturing Beyond England and Wales
It is important to note that the information above relates to England and Wales only. If you are looking for property details online in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the process is different.