Her Majesty’s Land Registry is a non-ministerial Government Department, Executive Agency and Trading Fund according to the Land Registration Act 2002.
“So what does it have to do with buying and selling your home”? you might ask.
For some time now it has been a legal requirement that all Land transferred in the UK must be registered with the Land Registry and, once registered, all changes to title, all mortgages, most leases and other rights and easements must be registered with the Land Registry.
This has a distinct benefit to the buyer and seller as it makes clear who owns what and subject to which rights and obligations. A mistake by the Registry that causes you a loss is usually indemnified, so you should be protected.
The costs of registering a transaction with the Land Registry vary, dependent upon what you are registering and how you are registering it but if you plan to buy a Freehold property in England for £250,000 and your solicitor registers it in the standard manner you will be charged somewhere in the region of £300 at the time of writing. Fees for registration are linked to the purchase price.
Land Registry fees are separate to Stamp Duty which will also be payable in most cases on property valued at more than £125,000. Additional fees will be incurred for searches of the Register and Local Authority Searches, etc.
For more information please contact us or speak to an advisor on 01628 507477.
