Title for Mortgage Ownership Documents

The documents titled "title deeds" provide evidence of land and property ownership since their registration. They also record any mortgages that are attached to the property. These title deeds serve as legally binding proof of ownership for a property or plot of land.

The storage location of the title deeds varies depending on whether the property is situated in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

For most properties, the title deeds are kept in electronic format. If you wish to obtain a copy of your deeds, you can do so by contacting the Land Registry.

If you purchased your property prior to November 1, 1999, or if your property is not registered with the Land Registry, you may possess paper title deeds instead.

In the event that you do not possess the original title deeds, they may be stored with your mortgage provider. Alternatively, they may be in the possession of the solicitor who represented you during the property purchase.

To access information regarding the Land Registry, please follow the link to HM Land Registry (opens in a new window).

For information specific to Scotland and Northern Ireland, you will need to consult the land registries of these regions on their respective websites. Click on the following links to access the Land Register of Scotland (opens in a new window) and the Land Registry for Northern Ireland (opens in a new window).

Original title deeds may contain unregistered information that could prove useful or interesting. This may include details about repair and maintenance responsibilities, boundary descriptions, or references to historically or personally significant names.

The information contained within your title deeds may include property ownership details, such as the name and address of the registered owner(s). Additionally, it will contain a description of the property, any restrictions affecting it (such as restrictive covenants), and maintenance responsibilities that may be visually represented on the title plan through colored markings. Other details may include the date of purchase and the price paid or value stated for properties sold after April 2000, information about rights of way and drainage rights, registered mortgages and charges affecting the title (including the lender's name and address), references to previous transfers, agreements, and conveyances, along with their respective dates and names of the parties involved. The title number and the property's tenure type (such as freehold or leasehold) will also be included.

If we are in possession of your deeds, they will be sent to you once your mortgage has been fully repaid and closed.

If you possess paper deeds, you will need to instruct your solicitor to remove the charge at the Land Register of Scotland. Please note that a fee will be required to complete this process.

Your paper deeds can be sent to your home address via recorded post, provided we have written authorization from all parties on the mortgage.

If we do not receive written authorization, the title deeds will be sent to your local branch.

For further information on how to request the title deeds, please visit our Information for Lawyers page.

Click on the following link to access the Information for Lawyers page: Information for Lawyers.