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Unregistered property

Many properties in England and Wales are registered at HM Land Registry, but some are not. Here at Winston Solicitors, we can deal with the conveyancing of both registered and unregistered properties, whether you are buying or selling.

How to sell an unregistered property?

  • You will need to let us know where the unregistered deeds are. If the property is in mortgage, they should be with the lender. If the property is not in mortgage, the deeds may be with another firm of solicitors/conveyancers.
  • If you do not know where the deeds are, you will need to find out who last held them. If they were held by a firm of solicitors/conveyancers, we can write to that firm to see whether they still hold the deeds.
  • If the deeds cannot be found, we can obtain copies of any documents from the archives to the former West Riding Deeds Registry. This process can be costly.
  • We will forward copies of the relevant deeds to your buyer’s solicitors/conveyancers with the draft contract and other papers.
  • Your buyer’s solicitors/conveyancers will check the title and will raise any relevant queries.

If you are buying an unregistered property

  • We will check the title documents supplied by your seller’s solicitors/conveyancers and will raise any relevant queries.
  • If any documents are missing, we will asking for missing information indemnity insurance.
  • We will register your title at HM Land Registry after completion.

Are there extra costs when dealing with unregistered properties?

The Land Registry fee for “first registrations” is twice as much as their fee for dealing with registered titles. The Land Registry normally takes longer to complete “first registration” applications than applications relating to titles that are already registered.

There is more legal work involved in selling or buying an unregistered property. We charge a supplement to reflect this.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) could be payable depending on the purchase price. See our Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) calculator for a guide to this.

With all property transactions it is important to have a will to reflect your wishes. 

Client feedback

Absolutely fantastic, kept us informed every step of the way when purchasing our home
Marie
We are so grateful to Sidraa for all her support during our recent property purchase. She kept us informed and up to date every step of the way, always responding promptly and sharing information clearly and in a timely manner.Sidraa worked incredibly hard behind the scenes, handling so much of the legal side with care and efficiency — often without us even realising just how much she was doing. Her dedication and thoroughness made the whole process feel smooth and stress-free, which we deeply appreciate.Thanks to her professionalism and attention to detail, what is usually a complex and sometimes overwhelming process felt straightforward and well-managed. We couldn’t have asked for a better solicitor and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sidraa to anyone buying a property.
Sahid
I would highly recommend Winston Solicitors to anyone in need of reliable legal support. Sidraa was outstanding throughout our entire process—reliable, diligent, informative, and genuinely kind. She kept us consistently updated, always took the time to explain things clearly, and was readily available to speak with us directly whenever we had questions. Her professionalism and personal touch made a potentially stressful process feel smooth and manageable.
Jacob C
Great service by Winston Solicitors - was communicated at every step - would recommend both Tom and Sidraa for their professionalism
Anonymous
Excellent
Anna L
A very good conveyancing service. Clear and direct communication throughout the process. I would recommend Winston's solicitors if you intend to buy or sell a property.
Mr G
Very best service as First time buyer they explained and Sort out everything clearly for me.
Nosheen
Samantha was great. Very efficient. Always able to help. Very straightforward transaction. I would recommend.
Mr & M
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