What is HM Land Registry and what are Title Deeds?
Caz Blake-Symes • September 10, 2020
HM Land Registry is a non-ministerial government department created in 1862.
Within England and Wales, their responsibilities are to provide:
- a reliable record of information about ownership of and interests affecting land and property
- owners with a land title, guaranteed by the government
- a title plan that indicates general boundaries
When buying and/or selling land or a property it is vital to appoint a Solicitor or Conveyancor who will ensure the ownership of the land is correct and the transfer of the new title legally passes to the new owner
What are title deeds?
Title deeds are paper documents showing the chain of ownership for land and property.
They can include:
- conveyances
- contracts for sale
- wills
- mortgages
- leases
Where are my title deeds?
HM Land Registry records are digital, so they do not store paper title deeds.
Generally, they only have the original title deeds when land or property is registered for the first time, as they need them to prepare the register. They create scanned copies of some deeds and then return all the original title deeds to whoever lodged them. This is usually the solicitor or conveyancer acting on behalf of the buyer.
So, if you are trying to track down original deeds, they could be with the solicitor who acted for you when you bought the property, or possibly with your mortgage company if you have a mortgage.
If the property was already registered when you bought it, the seller may not have handed over the original deeds. There is no requirement for them to do so. Tracing the original deeds for a property that has been bought and sold many times is likely to be an impossible task.
If you want to see a scanned copy of the deeds that the Land Registry has on file, start by searching their property information and finding your property’s title number. If the register refers to deeds being filed, they should have copies. You can then get a copy of your deeds.
Do I need my title deeds?
The Land Register is the definitive record of land and property ownership in England and Wales. So, if your property is registered with them, you don’t need the deeds to confirm ownership. It is a good idea to keep the original deeds though, as they can hold extra information, about legal boundaries or who the previous owner was, for example.
If your property isn’t on the register and you choose to apply for first registration, you'll need to submit the original deeds. If your deeds have been lost or destroyed, it can make things more complicated, so always recommend keeping them in a safe place.
A title register generally includes:
- property description
- who owns it
- mortgage lender (if any)
- price paid/value stated (if registered since 1st April 2000)
- rights of way (not public rights of way) or other rights affecting the property restrictions or other conditions
Can anyone view details of any property?
Yes, since 3 December 1990 the public have been able to look at the register of title (this includes title plans) in England and Wales. Prior to that, only registered owners and people with the owner's permission could look at a register of title.
You can request information for the following costs:
- £3 for a title register copy (details of a property)
- £3 for each title plan (plan of a property)
- £9.00 (excluding VAT) for each Flood Risk Indicator result (an indication of flood risk for a property)
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Lower mortgage rates are supporting more house sales against a backdrop of modest house price inflation. Zoopla’s House Price Index tracks key trends in the UK housing market - here’s the latest news in May 2025.
This Edition Includes..
Helping Your Family Onto The Property Ladder
What will happen to Interest Rates This Year?
Easing Stress Testing?
Looking to Remortgage?
Getting a Mortgage with Adverse Credit
Plus lots more…
Mortgage rates are likely to stay in the 4-5% range this year while changes to affordability testing by lenders could give buyers a boost.
Sky high house prices, high cost of living, student loans and rising rent costs mean that getting on the property ladder is challenging. But the desire to own a home remains strong for many young adults.
Now, the affectionately known ‘bank of mum and dad’ (or bank of other family members) may wish to lend or give money for deposits and other house purchase costs. Our expert Mortgage Advisers will be able to discuss all options available to suit your specific family’s situation.
The Bank of England has voted to reduce the Base Rate by 0.25% for the second time this year, taking it to 4.25%. Base Rate was held at 4.5% in March after it was cut by 0.25% in February.
Adapted from Zoopla’s April 2025 Housing report I mage: The analysis uses average house prices from the house price index and for first-time buyers to assess mortgage payments at different mortgage rates applied to a 30- year mortgage, at different loan-to-values. One emerging trend that we expect to positively support market activity in the coming months is a relaxation in how lenders assess the affordability of new mortgages. While buyers focus on the mortgage rate they will pay, lenders also check whether the borrower can afford a 'stressed mortgage rate' at a higher level than the borrower will pay. While the average 5-year fixed rate mortgage is around 4.5% today, many lenders are currently 'stress testing' affordability at 8-9%. This makes it harder to secure a mortgage without a large deposit. If average mortgage stress rates were to return to pre-2022 levels of 6.5% to 7%, this would deliver a 15-20% boost to buying power. An average first-time buyer with mortgage repayments of £1,020pcm at a 4.5% mortgage rate would typically have to prove they could afford monthly repayments of £1,550pcm at an 8.5% stress rate. If the stress testing is relaxed to 6.5%, repayments would fall to £1,275pcm, boosting buying power. It's a similar pattern for the average homeowner, while the actual impact will vary by lender and type of borrower. This change would consequently supporting demand and sales volumes, helping to clear the stock of homes for sale, rather than boosting house prices. Other existing rules and regulations that remain in place will continue to impact the availability of mortgage finance. Comment from Phil Clark “This is potentially very exciting news and will give borrowers a greater choice of products if these rules are relaxed. Regardless of whether you are a First-time Buyer, Looking to move, remortgage or invest in property, there are a huge range of competitive mortgage deals on the market. I will be delighted to discuss your specific requirements and offer you the most suitable deal!” Please call Phil on 0117 3251511 or email info@swmortgages.com For more information about the Mortgage and Protection products we offer, please visit www.bristolmortgagesonline.com Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other debt secured on it.
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There have been some important changes to the legislation regarding Stamp Duty Land Tax with effect from 1 April 2025.
This edition includes fantastic new mortgage products, updated guides for those with adverse credit, 17 great tips to follow before making and application and lots more.
If you need help with any of the items covered, please call Phil on 0117 325 1511.