Selling an unregistered property: a guide

Selling an unregistered property may sound complicated, but it’s more common than you might think. Many homes that have been owned by the same family for decades, passed down through inheritance or never had a mortgage remain unregistered with HM Land Registry.

In this guide, we’ll explain what an unregistered property is, why some homes aren’t registered, how to register one and the easiest ways to sell.

What is an unregistered property?

An unregistered property is just a property that isn’t recorded on HM Land Registry’s digital register. Instead of ownership being confirmed through the Land Registry, the legal ownership is proven using original paper title deeds.

These deeds show the history of ownership and other important information about the property, such as rights of way, boundaries and any restrictions affecting the land.

Although most properties in England and Wales are now registered, there are still thousands of unregistered homes. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the property, it just means it hasn’t triggered compulsory registration.

Why would a house not be registered with Land Registry?

The most common reason is that the property hasn’t changed hands since compulsory registration was introduced in 1990.

Over the years, different parts of England and Wales became subject to compulsory registration at different times, but today, registration is usually required whenever a property is sold, inherited in certain circumstances, gifted or mortgaged. 

If a property has been owned by the same people (or organisation) for several decades, there may never have been a reason to register it.

Other reasons include:

• The property has been passed down through generations without being sold.
• It has always been owned outright, so no mortgage lender required registration.
• It was transferred before compulsory registration applied in the local area.
• Registration was overlooked following an earlier transaction.

Can you get a mortgage on an unregistered property?

Yes, it’s possible to get a mortgage on an unregistered property, but the process can be more complicated. Mortgage lenders will want to see sufficient evidence that the seller legally owns the property. This usually means examining the original title deeds and ensuring there’s a clear chain of ownership.

Many lenders will require the property to be registered with HM Land Registry before the mortgage completes. As a result, buying or selling an unregistered property with mortgage finance can sometimes take longer than a standard transaction.

Cash buyers, such as House Buyer Bureau, don’t rely on mortgage approval, which can make the process much simpler and faster.

How to register an unregistered property

Registering an unregistered property is fairly straightforward but is best done through a legal professional. The application will need to be supported by:

• The original title deeds.
• Documents proving ownership.
• Any supporting legal documents, such as probate paperwork if the property has been inherited.
• The relevant Land Registry forms and registration fee.

A conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer will usually handle the application on your behalf, checking that the title deeds provide a complete record of ownership.

How to sell an unregistered property

Selling an unregistered property is possible, but it often requires more preparation than selling a registered home. The key is making sure you have the necessary paperwork available before you begin marketing the property.

Register before selling

Many homeowners choose to register their property before they put it on the market. Having a registered title can:

• Give buyers greater confidence.
• Reduce the amount of legal work during conveyancing.
• Make the property more attractive to mortgage buyers.
• Help avoid delays once a sale has been agreed.

Although registration adds an extra step at the beginning, it can often make the overall selling process smoother.

Sell to a cash house buyer

If you’re looking for a faster, simpler sale, selling to a cash house buyer is a practical alternative. Cash buyers like House Buyer Bureau use their own money so they aren’t dependent on mortgage lenders, meaning there are fewer parties involved and fewer opportunities for delays.

An experienced cash house buyer will also be familiar with purchasing unregistered properties and can work with your solicitor to resolve any title issues as part of the transaction.

This can be particularly helpful if:

• You’re working to a tight timescale.
• You’d prefer to avoid the uncertainty of the open market.
• You need to sell following an inheritance.
• The property has been owned by the same family for decades.

Every property sale is different, but selling to a professional cash buyer removes much of the complexity associated with unregistered titles.

At House Buyer Bureau we often speak with sellers who are surprised to learn that their property hasn’t been registered. It’s more common than you might think, especially if the property’s been passed down through family or never had a mortgage on it.

The biggest challenge we come across here is missing paperwork – original deeds are regularly missing, particularly if the property’s been inherited. In our experience, the sooner you speak to your solicitor about missing paperwork the better, as otherwise your buyer might get spooked by title enquiries being raised by their solicitor. It can slow the process down considerably.

At House Buyer Bureau, we work with specialist solicitors who are very experienced at dealing with unregistered properties and minimising the delays that first time registration can bring. When you sell a property to us, we can recommend you a solicitor who will act for you but get paid by us – giving you expert legal advice at no cost.

Sell your unregistered house fast with House Buyer Bureau

At House Buyer Bureau, we understand that selling an unregistered property can feel daunting, especially if you’re dealing with decades-old title deeds or an inherited home.

Our experienced team has helped homeowners across England and Wales sell all kinds of properties, including those that haven’t yet been registered with HM Land Registry.

Because we buy with cash, there’s no property chain and no waiting for mortgage approvals. We’ll work closely with your solicitor to help keep the sale progressing, even when additional legal work is required.

If you’re looking for a straightforward, hassle-free way to sell your unregistered property, get in touch with House Buyer Bureau today. We’ll provide a free, noobligation cash offer and guide you through every step of the process.

FAQs

Chris

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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