Land Information Services Section

1. Land Registration Systems in Northern Ireland

Since land registration has not yet been extended to all of Northern Ireland, two distinct registration systems continue to operate side by side.

The title to approximately 50% of properties in the province is registered in the Land Registry and the remaining properties are dealt with by the Registry of Deeds. Properties registered in the Land Registry (known as "registered land") are mainly rural areas or recent development estates on the periphery of towns, while most Registry of Deeds properties ("unregistered land") are in established urban areas. The Land Registry of Northern Ireland is NOT part of HM Land Registry. It operates under different legislation and its practices and prescribed forms are quite different.

As neither the Land Registry nor the Registry of Deeds is fully computerised, it is not always possible to make a search against a postal address

The Statutory Charges Registry is administered by the Land Registry. It is a map based registry which shows registration of charges on land created by or in favour of government departments and public and local authorities under statutory provisions. These include a wide range of matters such as planning restrictions, notices relating to water and sewage, notices relating to roads turbary regulations, ancient monument preservation orders and statutory conditions arising from home improvements grants.

Designated areas such as areas of special scientific interest and conservation areas are also registered.

The three Registries combine to form Land Registers of Northern Ireland (LRNI), an executive agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel for N.I.

2. Finding out the ownership of land or property

A search of the Registry map will show in the first instance whether the land is registered or unregistered. If the land is registered, Land Registry’s records will show details of the ownership and other matters such as rights of way, mortgages, etc. affecting the property. If the land appears to be unregistered it may be more difficult to find out who owns it. The Registry of Deeds is based on a Names Index and it is not always possible to search against the land or property. However, if you know the name of a former owner, a search against that name will show whether a deed created by that person has been registered and, if so, what property it relates to. If you do not know the name of the owner, or a former owner, you should contact a solicitor or Law Searcher for advice.

 

3. Personal searches in the Land Registry

Where do I make a personal search?

You make this type of search by visiting the Registry's public counters between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm on any weekday. There is no need to make an appointment.

Will I receive assistance?

Trained staff are at hand to assist you with enquiries that may arise when making this type of search. They will help you to interpret documents but are not permitted to give legal advice.

Which documents can I inspect?

You may inspect:

- the registry map

- any folio

- any document referred to in any entry on the folio made after first registration of the land

Because of space constraints, some documents are not stored in the Lincoln Building. The Customer Service Advisor will help you in the event that a document is not available for inspection.

4. Map Searches

What does the Land Registry map show?

The Land Registry map shows the location of all registered land. Where the land is registered, the map will confirm this and state the relevant folio number. To interpret the meaning of a colour on the registry map it is always advisable to refer to the folio. Land Registry detail is shown on the registry map by various edgings and colourings and as a general rule:

- Freehold folios are edged red

- Leasehold folios are edged green or blue

- Turbary plot boundaries are edged brown

- Rights of way are coloured brown or blue or lettered between certain points

- Pipelines are usually shown by blue or green pecked lines

- Septic Tanks are lettered T

5. Folio Searches

What is a folio and what information does a folio search provide?

A folio is an official document, which contains a brief description of the registered property and also details of its ownership and any other matters which affect it such as rights of way, mortgages etc. If the terminology used in folios and other documents is not familiar to you, you may find it helpful to refer to the document in this Library entitled A glossary of terms used in LRNI.

6. What documents are not held by the Land Registry?

The following documents are not held by the Land registry:

- Estate records containing information about freehold land prior to its purchase under the Land Purchase Acts and subsequent registration. (These records are held by the Public Record Office)

- Title deeds dated prior to the date of first registration, other than those specifically referred to on the folio. (These deeds are returned to the solicitor of the person applying for first registration).

- Birth, marriage or death certificates (copies may be obtained from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages)

- Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration (copies may be obtained from the Probate Registry in the High Court)

7. What information about land cannot be obtained from Land Registry?

There are many matters relating to land and property for which the Land Registry is not responsible and does not hold records. For example

- Unregistered titles

- Matters relating to planning permission, road bonds, tree preservation orders, listed building enforcement notices, declaration of housing action areas, etc, which should be recorded on the Statutory Charges register.

- Land held under a lease for 21 years or less

- Public rights of way

- Rights created before first registration

8. Copy Documents

After inspecting a deed, folio or map, you may obtain a copy of it on payment of the appropriate fee.

9. Official Land Registry searches

How do I carry out a search if I am unable to visit the Land Registry in person?

If you are unable to visit the Land Registry in person you may apply by post to have an official search of any folio or map made on your behalf.

Do I need an application form?

Yes. Application forms for official searches may be obtained free of charge from Land Registry public counters or by telephoning Belfast 028 90 251515 or in the Library section of this website under Land Registry forms.

What agencies exist to carry out a search on my behalf?

The firms of Law Searchers listed at the end of this guide will carry out any folio or map search on your behalf.

10. Extension of Compulsory First Registration (CFR)

A scheme to extend land registration throughout Northern Ireland has begun.

County Down was designated as a CFR area on 1st February 2001.

County Armagh was designated as a CFR area on 7th September 2001.

This means that if anyone has bought property within the Registration Areas after they have been designated, they must apply to the Land Registry to have the title registered. However, in the following circumstances they are not required to make an application for first registration;

- The property has been in their ownership prior to 1996

- The property being purchased already has a registered title

- They are receiving the property as a gift or under someone's will

- They are mortgaging a property which they already own

- The property is outside the Registration Area.

11. Some of the advantages of the Land Registry system

- All titles registered in the Land Registry receive a State guarantee of title, and compensation may be payable for loss caused by an official error.

- Land registration removes the need for solicitors to examine bundles of deeds in subsequent transactions and reduces the possibility of fraud.

- The locations of all registered properties are shown on the registry map and written details of each property are found on a single document called a Folio. An official copy of the Folio, called a Land Certificate, forms the owner's title deed.

- The Registry is open to the public and ownership details can easily be obtained or checked by inspection of the registry maps and folios.

- Land registration simplifies the processing of subsequent changes in ownership and facilitates easier conveyancing.

12. Registry of Deeds searches

What will a Registry of Deeds search show?

It will show whether a deed created by a particular person has been registered and give details of the property affected by the deed.

What information do I need to carry out a search in the Registry of Deeds?

The Registry of Deeds is based primarily on a Names Index and searches should therefore be made against the owner or a former owner of a particular property rather than the property itself. However, with the introduction of computerisation to the Registry of Deeds, in some circumstances it may be possible to obtain a search result from a postal address. Although it is possible to obtain an official search, nearly all searching in the Registry of Deeds is undertaken by a number of accredited firms of Law Searchers. Details of these firms are listed under "Useful Information and Addresses"

13. Statutory Charges Searches

Searches may be made personally or through any accredited Law Searcher.

ACE Maps (Address Centred Extracts) are available from ORDNANCE SURVEY OF NORTHERN IRELAND

• Your chosen location - ideal for professional/Land Registry use
• Address or co-ordinate centred
• Supplied on demand
• Range of output scales
• Competitively priced
• Customer name, postal address, grid values and plan numbers  all shown
• A4 size - easily stored
• Latest database output

Valuation & Lands Agency  Queen's Court  56-66 Upper Queen Street Belfast	Registry of Deeds  27-45 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7SJ
BT1 6FD	Tel. (02890 ) 251756
Tel. (02890 ) 250700	Fax. (02890 ) 251550
Land Registry  27-45 Great Victoria Street  Belfast  BT2 7SL	Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast BT9 6NY
Tel. (02890 ) 251515	Tel: (02890 ) 251318
Fax. (02890 ) 251550
Statutory Charges Registry 27-45 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7SL Tel. (02890 ) 251644

Raymond Adams	Lawmark Law Searchers
93 Waringsford Road	Ashton Centre
Banbridge	5 Churchill Street
BT32 3TP	Belfast
Tel. (028406) 62482	BT1 5JE
	Tel. (02890 ) 743653
R Aughey	Lee & Co.
30 Glen Road	11 Donegall Sqaure South
Hillsborough	Belfast
Co Down	BT1 5BB
BT26 6ES	Tel. (02890 ) 246933
Tel. (02892 ) 689653
L T Byrne	Lyttle & Co.
Washington House	105a Great Victoria Street
14-16 High Street	Belfast
Belfast	BT2 7AG
Tel. (02890) 248822	Tel. (02890) 230095
Chambers Law Searchers	W McCartney & Co.
26 Howard Street	58 Howard Street
Belfast	Belfast
BT1 6PJ	BT1 6PJ
Tel. (02890) 235055	Tel. (02890) 234538
Ellis Law Searchers	John McMahon & Co.
Scottish Provident Buildings	28-32 Alfred Street
7 Donegall Square West	Belfast BT2 8EN
Belfast	DX: 2014 NR Belfast2
BT1 6JR	Tel: (028) 9072 0665
Tel. (02890) 246301	Fax: (028) 9072 0639
	search@jmcmahon.co.uk
Kelly Law	Warnock & Co.
29 Carnvue Avenue	22 Monaville Avenue
Newtownabbey	Lisburn
BT36 6RA	Co Antrim
Tel. (02890) 848235	BT28 2DF
	Tel. (02892) 675883
Martin Breslin Law Searcher	G. Paxton Law Searcher
10 Shanliere Park	2 Orby Park
Belfast	Belfast
BT14 8JE	BT5 5PT
Tel. (02890) 721244	(02890) 298680
	Mobile (07890) 248281