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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

Thank You to Sidraa Razaq to handle the purchase of a house I was buying as a gift, and I couldn’t be happier with the service. From the very beginning she was very professional, approachable, and made what could have been a stressful process feel completely straightforward.She took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me updated at each stage, and dealt with all the paperwork and legalities with efficiency and care. Their attention to detail and commitment to ensuring everything went smoothly gave me real peace of mind throughout.I would highly recommend Sidraa Razaq to anyone looking for a solicitor who is not only knowledgeable but also genuinely supportive.
MOHAMMED Y
Very efficient and always available to answer any questions
Alastair
Winston Solicitors handled our recent house purchase and sale and provided an excellent service throughout. Sidraa Razaq, supported by Tom McIlroy, exhibited an outstanding professionalism, expertise, and responsiveness from te moment we first made contact, all of which made what was at times a less than straightforward transaction much easier to navigate. I'd have no hesitation in recommending them to others.
Kieran
Excellent service, very efficient and able to answer questions when needed.
Ben
Fast, excellent and highly professional conveyancing solicitors. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Anonymous
Winstons are brilliant, very responsive to messages, professional and patient. Fantastic customer service- face to face and email/telephone. Would 100% recommend!
Lucy
Absolutely exceptional service from start to finish. I will definitely be recommending you to others. Michelle was fantastic and eased me through the whole process. I had so many questions as a first time buyer, Michelle answered them all and responded quickly every time. Very happy - August 2025
Kimberley W, Derbyshire
We are greatful for Sam's and her team work. We don't believe buying or selling a house could be made any easier. Thank you! - August 2025
Pawel S, Wakefield
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