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.

Selling an unregistered property
Buying an unregistered property
Extra costs with unregistered property

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

This is the third time I’ve used Winston Solicitors and Sidraa has been fantastic in each. Highly proactive and responsive, clear communication and moves things along quickly. Will always be my first choice in future purchases.

D. Paige, Staffordshire

Winston Solicitors (in particular, Samantha Robertson-Strong and Aishah Zahir) were absolutely brilliant. Our case was handled perfectly from start-to-finish. We always felt we were in good hands, all of our queries were responded to quickly, and each step of the process was very well explained. We would 100% recommend this firm to everyone. Thank you so much!

T. Kirkbride, North Yorkshire

Brilliant support from both Sidraa and Paulo. I would definitely use Winston Solicitors again in the future!

N. Patel, Leeds

We just want to take this time to say a massive thank you to all at Winston Solicitors. You took the pressure and stress off us throughout the process. We were always kept in the loop and knew exactly what stage we were at with everything. Each and every person we have dealt with from dropping documents off, telephone calls and emails have been amazing. Thanks again team!

R Burrows, Bradford

We dealt with Samantha for purchasing our first home, and we cannot say enough nice things about her and her team. Samantha was incredibly efficient, patient and kind, and it was a pleasure to deal with her throughout. We will absolutely be using Winston solicitors again for any future needs.

J Yong, West Yorkshire

I recently used Winston Solicitors for my property purchase, and I couldn't be happier with the service I received. A special thank you to Leasa Foster, who handled my case with exceptional professionalism, efficiency, and care throughout the entire process.Leasa kept me informed at every stage, responded promptly to my queries, and explained everything clearly, making what can often be a stressful experience feel smooth and straightforward. Her attention to detail and proactive approach ensured that everything progressed efficiently and without unnecessary delays.Thank you, Leasa and the Winston Solicitors team, for your excellent service! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  

M K, North Yorkshire

I had a very positive experience with Winston Solicitors throughout my property purchase. The team was professional, efficient, and kept me informed at every stage of the process.A special thank you to Leasa Foster, who handled my case with exceptional professionalism, efficiency, and care throughout the entire process.Leasa kept me informed at every stage, responded promptly to my queries, and explained everything clearly, making what can often be a stressful experience feel smooth and straightforward. Her attention to detail and proactive approach ensured that everything progressed efficiently and without unnecessary delays.Thank you, Leasa and the Winston Solicitors team, for your excellent service!

Majuwana

Exceptional service from start to finish. Used for sale and purchase of home. Clear information, professional yet friendly and supportive throughout the process. Was kept up to date consistently via email or phone. Faultless! Excellent customer service. I would highly recommended Winston Solicitors.

Rebecca