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My folks moved house 20years ago and the deeds are with the conveyancer. That company has been bought many times over but they still have the deeds somewhere, in theory. My parents have never had a paper copy of the deeds.
Is it worth chasing the conveyancer company or should I just pay the land registry for them? My folks are late 70s and don't want any fuss but want the deeds to magically arrive at their house. 🤦
…just pay the land registry for them
This. We also have set up a property alert with Land Registry while we were sorting things out tomorrow reduce the risk of fraud.
If the property is registered with the land registry, copies are £7 online or you can get a certified copy through a solicitor I think. If it hasn't been registered then I'd get it voluntary registered, first stop would be whoever holds the deeds and shouldn't cost too much.
Why do they want the deeds? Being scammed?
Regardless, I'd get it sorted as it'll be a right pain if it's not registered and it needs to be sold as you'll need to prove ownership.
They want the deeds because they've never had them. The house is a 1970s bungalow so it should be registered already but who knows.
Depends when it was last sold, anything that's changed hands since 1990 will be registered, otherwise it might not. Check here on gov.uk
They want the deeds because they've never had them
That's not really a good.reason. We've got no mortgage any longer, or a copy of any deeds. I'm not really sure if they even exist anymore, or why I should want them. Pretty confident if I did have it wouldn't be some beautiful illuminated script on vellum, but a printed copy of an electronic land registry entry.
Is there honestly a genuine reason to have a copy of such a thing?
I guess you're not late 70s considering your own mortality?
If the house was bought 20 years ago then it should be registered, definitive proof of ownership is from a copy of the Register, which you can buy from the Land Registry - only use the gov.uk site as there are scammy companies who pay to be higher in searches and charge much more.
The original deeds, if still held by a solicitor, are of sentimental value only although there could be documents relating to planning, locations of services etc which the land registry wouldn’t have needed but might be useful.
People do get very attached to the thought of physically having their deeds but there hasn’t been a paper certificate of title since the early 90s when everything was converted to an electronic register
Thanks everyone. I agree they don't need the original copies but they want them. It's a shame they weren't so insistent in 2005 when they bought the house
🤦♂️
O.P maybe show them this thread.
My friend recently had to pay £600 to retrieve the deeds that the estate agent had ‘lost’, for her elderly mother’s house. The other daughter insisted they have them.
Is it worth chasing the conveyancer company
Can be, if you know who they are, they're often happy for you to come and get them -what I did with mine (just interested in the history of my house) as otherwise they just take up space. They often want a bunch of cash to post them to you, but will hand them over for free if you go get them IME.
Regardless, I'd get it sorted as it'll be a right pain if it's not registered and it needs to be sold as you'll need to prove ownership.
I went through this when my mum died. The solicitors denied all knowledge and the land registry came back with nothing. Proof of ownership involved canvassing neighbours to confirm that yes, she had in fact lived there for half a century.
20 years ago isn't that long ago in house sale terms. Do they have any other paperwork from that time? Their may be a Land Registry reference amongst it.
I had to deal with Land Registry recently when I removed my mum from the 'deeds' after her death. It was simple form to fill in and send off death certificate. All sorted within a few weeks.
Try them first, don't waste money on solicitors.
I've now got the summary info from Land Registry now for £7. They are the registered owners... quelle surprise! I now need to request a paper copy of the docs from LR using form OC2 for a few more £s.
My folks are not that old but are very old fashioned and won't ask questions. A Doctor could cut remove a kidney during a flu jab and they wouldn't even ask why. They don't have a will and LPoA is a weird exotic thing from another universe despite them not being in the best of health. They think they'll live forever.
@kilo - how do you set up the alert?
They don't have a will and LPoA is a weird exotic thing from another universe despite them not being in the best of health.
Getting those sorted is way more important!!
Took me ages to get LPA's done for my parents - like yours they were always going to be fine!!! I said I could do it for them but they insisted on using a solicitor so it was done 'properly'. Cost them money but at least it got done.
Thanks - mine are firmly in the denial stage despite losing brothers in recent years. They refuse to talk about it with me and my brothers.
I think the deeds are a distraction to make it look like they are doing something. My Dad won't consider a will or LPoA until the deeds are sorted. FFS
Oh gosh, not having the Will or LPoA is going to be very time consuming and tricky for you and other family members in the future. Maybe a good friend/neighbour/legal passerby could drop some huge hints.
My good friend got a will sorted through the Co-op for her mum. My friend did everything online and presented the paperwork to her mum, who was quite surprised (nothing illegal went on). Her mother got it all sorted (I signed as witness). Voila all done quite quickly. Unfortunately the PoA took months.
Good luck
Thanks - mine are firmly in the denial stage despite losing brothers in recent years. They refuse to talk about it with me and my brothers.
The way I broached this with my mum was "my partner and I have just set this up for each other... hey, I know, shall we do yours as well?"
I know you probably know this, but you put PoA in place BECAUSE they are healthy. Granting it is cheap and easy, taking it is difficult and bastard expensive.
Took me ages to get LPA's done for my parents - like yours they were always going to be fine!!! I said I could do it for them but they insisted on using a solicitor so it was done 'properly'. Cost them money but at least it got done.
PoA is sub-£200 to register both parts and the two are dead straight forward. She spoke to a solicitor who said they'd fill it in for her for something like £1300.
PoA is sub-£200 to register both parts and the two are dead straight forward. She spoke to a solicitor who said they'd fill it in for her for something like £1300.
My father was similar a few years back - insists that PoA, will etc are only "right" if you pay a solicitor. He's of the view that my will won't be "right" or "registered" as we have DIY'd and shared with family. He moved house recently and paid the solicitor to change the address on will and PoA...
Mrs_oab and I just spoke about PoA for ourselves and we are only 51..well nearly 52. But we aren't talking about that.
I have been caring for an elderly relative under POA for the last four years. It is challenging enough with everything set up and in place.
I can't imagine the stress and misery of not having it. Even simple things like talking to BT for example. First thing they ask 'have you got poa?'
Cougars suggestion is a good one but whatever you do. make it a priority to get it set up.