United Kingdom — Property: Legal Checks

Key facts

• Before buying, the conveyancer searches the Land Register for all information about the property, and some searches are required by the lender while others are recommended.
• A free property summary shows the address, whether freehold or leasehold, and whether restrictive covenants or easements appear on the register; unregistered land gives no owner result.
• Official searches use forms OS1 (priority of whole) and OS2 (priority of part), described in Practice Guide 12.
• The seller completes the TA6 property information form (TA7 for leasehold) and the TA10 fittings and contents form.
• For leasehold titles the register and title plan must be read with the lease; registration often follows completion by a few weeks.

Steps

1. Conduct a property title search — It is unclear what specific steps are involved in a title search and whether it is mandatory or optional.
2. Review the property's deed — The deed may contain information on the property's ownership and any outstanding liens or mortgages, but the specifics are not well understood.