OpenLegislation

Land Registration Act 2002

2002 c. 9 · Enacted 26 February 2002 · Extends to England and Wales

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 132(1)word substitutedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 29(a)
s. 132(1)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 29(b)
s. 132(1)words insertedHousing and Planning Act 2016 Sch. 7 para. 29(c)

An Act to make provision about land registration; and for connected purposes.

[26th February 2002] C1

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C2C3C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (24.3.2003) by 2002 c. 29, ss. 47(2)(c)(3), 458(1); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-13 (as amended by S.I. 2003/531))

Act applied (24.2.2003) by 2002 c. 29, ss. 248(2)(c)(3), 458(1); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-7 (as amended by S.I. 2003/333))

Act applied (31.12.2005) by The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (Enforcement of Overseas Forfeiture Orders) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3180), art. 11(2)(b)

Act applied (1.1.2006) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3181), arts. {14(2)(b)}, {153(2)(b)}

C2

Act: certain functions transferred (9.11.2011) by The Transfer of Functions (Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Meteorological Office and Ordnance Survey) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2436), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 3

C3

Act applied by SI 2005/3181 art. 141L (as inserted (11.11.2013) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) (Amendment) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2604), arts. 1(1), 3)

C4

Act modified (21.5.2016) by Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 3), s. 17(2)(a)

C5

Act: power to amend conferred (26.10.2023) by Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), ss. 226(3)(a), 255(8) (with s. 247)

Contents

  1. Part 1: Preliminary
  2. 1Register of title
  3. 2Scope of title registration
  4. Part 2: First registration of title
  5. Chapter 1: First registration
  6. Voluntary registration
  7. 3When title may be registered
  8. Compulsory registration
  9. 4When title must be registered
  10. 5Power to extend section 4
  11. 6Duty to apply for registration of title
  12. 7Effect of non-compliance with section 6
  13. 8Liability for making good void transfers etc
  14. Classes of title
  15. 9Titles to freehold estates
  16. 10Titles to leasehold estates
  17. Effect of first registration
  18. 11Freehold estates
  19. 12Leasehold estates
  20. Dependent estates
  21. 13Appurtenant rights and charges
  22. Supplementary
  23. 14Rules about first registration
  24. Chapter 2: Cautions against first registration
  25. 15Right to lodge
  26. 16Effect
  27. 17Withdrawal
  28. 18Cancellation
  29. 19Cautions register
  30. 20Alteration of register by court
  31. 21Alteration of register by registrar
  32. 22Supplementary
  33. Part 3: Dispositions of registered land
  34. Powers of disposition
  35. 23Owner’s powers
  36. 24Right to exercise owner’s powers
  37. 25Mode of exercise
  38. 26Protection of disponees
  39. Registrable dispositions
  40. 27Dispositions required to be registered
  41. Effect of dispositions on priority
  42. 28Basic rule
  43. 29Effect of registered dispositions: estates
  44. 30Effect of registered dispositions: charges
  45. 31Inland Revenue charges
  46. Part 4: Notices and restrictions
  47. Notices
  48. 32Nature and effect
  49. 33Excluded interests
  50. 34Entry on application
  51. 35Unilateral notices
  52. 36Cancellation of unilateral notices
  53. 37Unregistered interests
  54. 38Registrable dispositions
  55. 39Supplementary
  56. Restrictions
  57. 40Nature
  58. 41Effect
  59. 42Power of registrar to enter
  60. 43Applications
  61. 44Obligatory restrictions
  62. 45Notifiable applications
  63. 46Power of court to order entry
  64. 47Withdrawal
  65. Part 5: Charges
  66. Relative priority
  67. 48Registered charges
  68. 49Tacking and further advances
  69. 50Overriding statutory charges: duty of notification
  70. Powers as chargee
  71. 51Effect of completion by registration
  72. 52Protection of disponees
  73. 53Powers as sub-chargee
  74. Realisation of security
  75. 54Proceeds of sale: chargee’s duty
  76. 55Local land charges
  77. Miscellaneous
  78. 56Receipt in case of joint proprietors
  79. 57Entry of right of consolidation
  80. Part 6: Registration: general
  81. Registration as proprietor
  82. 58Conclusiveness
  83. 59Dependent estates
  84. Boundaries
  85. 60Boundaries
  86. 61Accretion and diluvion
  87. Quality of title
  88. 62Power to upgrade title
  89. 63Effect of upgrading title
  90. 64Use of register to record defects in title
  91. Alteration of register
  92. 65Alteration of register
  93. Information etc.
  94. 66Inspection of the registers etc
  95. 67Official copies of the registers etc
  96. 68Index
  97. 69Historical information
  98. 70Official searches
  99. Applications
  100. 71Duty to disclose unregistered interests
  101. 72Priority protection
  102. 73Objections
  103. 74Effective date of registration
  104. Proceedings before the registrar
  105. 75Production of documents
  106. 76Costs
  107. Miscellaneous
  108. 77Duty to act reasonably
  109. 78Notice of trust not to affect registrar
  110. Part 7: Special cases
  111. The Crown
  112. 79Voluntary registration of demesne land
  113. 80Compulsory registration of grants out of demesne land
  114. 81Demesne land: cautions against first registration
  115. 82Escheat etc
  116. 83Crown and Duchy land: representation
  117. 84Disapplication of requirements relating to Duchy land
  118. 85Bona vacantia
  119. Overseas entities
  120. 85AOverseas entities
  121. Pending actions etc.
  122. 86Bankruptcy
  123. 87Pending land actions, writs, orders and deeds of arrangement
  124. Miscellaneous
  125. 88Incorporeal hereditaments
  126. 89Settlements
  127. 90PPP leases relating to transport in London
  128. Part 8: Electronic conveyancing
  129. 91Electronic dispositions: formalities
  130. 92Land registry network
  131. 93Power to require simultaneous registration
  132. 94Electronic settlement
  133. 95Supplementary
  134. Part 9: Adverse possession
  135. 96Disapplication of periods of limitation
  136. 97Registration of adverse possessor
  137. 98Defences
  138. Part 10: Land registry
  139. Administration
  140. 99The land registry
  141. 100Conduct of business
  142. 101Annual report
  143. Fees and indemnities
  144. 102Fee orders
  145. 103Indemnities
  146. Miscellaneous
  147. 104General information about land
  148. 105Services relating to land or other property
  149. 106Incidental powers: companies
  150. Part 11: Adjudication
  151. 107The adjudicator Repealed
  152. 108Jurisdiction
  153. 109Procedure Repealed
  154. 110Functions in relation to disputes
  155. 111Appeals
  156. 112Enforcement of orders etc
  157. 113Fees Repealed
  158. 114Supplementary Repealed
  159. Part 12: Miscellaneous and general
  160. Miscellaneous
  161. 115Rights of pre-emption
  162. 116Proprietary estoppel and mere equities
  163. 117Reduction in unregistered interests with automatic protection
  164. 118Power to reduce qualifying term
  165. 119Power to deregister manors
  166. 120Conclusiveness of filed copies etc
  167. 121Forwarding of applications to registrar of companies
  168. 122Repeal of Land Registry Act 1862
  169. Offences etc.
  170. 123Suppression of information
  171. 124Improper alteration of the registers
  172. 125Privilege against self-incrimination
  173. Land registration rules
  174. 126Miscellaneous and general powers
  175. 127Exercise of powers
  176. Supplementary
  177. 128Rules, regulations and orders
  178. 129Crown application
  179. 130Application to internal waters
  180. 131“Proprietor in possession”
  181. 132General interpretation
  182. Final provisions
  183. 133Minor and consequential amendments
  184. 134Transition
  185. 135Repeals
  186. 136Short title, commencement and extent
  187. Schedule 1: Unregistered interests which override first registration
  188. 1Leasehold estates in land
  189. 1ARelevant social housing tenancies
  190. 2Interests of persons in actual occupation
  191. 3Easements and profits a prendre
  192. 4Customary and public rights
  193. 5Paragraph 5
  194. 6Local land charges
  195. 7Mines and minerals
  196. 8Paragraph 8
  197. 9Paragraph 9
  198. 10Miscellaneous
  199. 11Paragraph 11
  200. 12Paragraph 12
  201. 13Paragraph 13
  202. 14Paragraph 14
  203. 16Paragraph 16
  204. Schedule 2: Registrable dispositions: registration requirements
  205. Part 1: Registered estates
  206. 1Introductory
  207. 2Transfer
  208. 3Lease of estate in land
  209. 4Lease of franchise or manor
  210. 5Paragraph 5
  211. 6Creation of independently registrable legal interest
  212. 7Creation of other legal interest
  213. 8Creation of legal charge
  214. Part 2: Registered charges
  215. 9Introductory
  216. 10Transfer
  217. 11Creation of sub-charge
  218. Schedule 3: Unregistered interests which override registered dispositions
  219. 1Leasehold estates in land
  220. 1ARelevant social housing tenancies
  221. 2Interests of persons in actual occupation
  222. 3Easements and profits a prendre
  223. 4Customary and public rights
  224. 5Paragraph 5
  225. 6Local land charges
  226. 7Mines and minerals
  227. 8Paragraph 8
  228. 9Paragraph 9
  229. 10Miscellaneous
  230. 11Paragraph 11
  231. 12Paragraph 12
  232. 13Paragraph 13
  233. 14Paragraph 14
  234. 16Paragraph 16
  235. Schedule 4: Alteration of the register
  236. 1Introductory
  237. 2Alteration pursuant to a court order
  238. 3Paragraph 3
  239. 4Paragraph 4
  240. 5Alteration otherwise than pursuant to a court order
  241. 6Paragraph 6
  242. 7Paragraph 7
  243. 8Rectification and derivative interests
  244. 9Costs in non-rectification cases
  245. Schedule 4A: Overseas entities
  246. 1Meaning of “qualifying estate”
  247. 2Registration
  248. 3Restrictions on disposal
  249. 4Registrable dispositions by overseas entity entitled to be registered (but not registered)
  250. 5Consent to registration of dispositions that cannot otherwise be registered
  251. 6Making dispositions that cannot be registered
  252. 7Interpretation etc.
  253. 8Paragraph 8
  254. Schedule 5: Land registry network
  255. 1Access to network
  256. 2Terms of access
  257. 3Termination of access
  258. 4Appeals
  259. 5Network transaction rules
  260. 6Overriding nature of network access obligations
  261. 7Do-it-yourself conveyancing
  262. 8Presumption of authority
  263. 9Management of network transactions
  264. 10Supplementary
  265. 11Paragraph 11
  266. 12Paragraph 12
  267. Schedule 6: Registration of adverse possessor
  268. 1Right to apply for registration
  269. 2Notification of application
  270. 3Treatment of application
  271. 4Paragraph 4
  272. 5Paragraph 5
  273. 6Right to make further application for registration
  274. 7Paragraph 7
  275. 8Restriction on applications
  276. 9Effect of registration
  277. 10Apportionment and discharge of charges
  278. 11Meaning of “adverse possession”
  279. 12Trusts
  280. 13Crown foreshore
  281. 14Rentcharges
  282. 15Procedure
  283. 16Extension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes Repealed
  284. Schedule 7: The land registry
  285. 1Holding of office by Chief Land Registrar
  286. 2Remuneration etc. of Chief Land Registrar
  287. 3Staff
  288. 4Indemnity for members
  289. 5Seal
  290. 6Documentary evidence
  291. 7Parliamentary disqualification
  292. Schedule 8: Indemnities
  293. 1Entitlement
  294. 2Mines and minerals
  295. 3Costs
  296. 4Paragraph 4
  297. 5Claimant’s fraud or lack of care
  298. 6Valuation of estates etc.
  299. 7Determination of indemnity by court
  300. 8Time limits
  301. 9Interest
  302. 10Recovery of indemnity by registrar
  303. 11Interpretation
  304. Schedule 9: The adjudicator
  305. 1Holding of office Repealed
  306. 2Remuneration Repealed
  307. 3Staff Repealed
  308. 4Conduct of business Repealed
  309. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  310. 6Finances Repealed
  311. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  312. 8Application of Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 Repealed
  313. 9Parliamentary disqualification Repealed
  314. Schedule 10: Miscellaneous and general powers
  315. Part 1: Miscellaneous
  316. 1Dealings with estates subject to compulsory first registration
  317. 2Regulation of title matters between sellers and buyers
  318. 3Implied covenants
  319. 4Land certificates
  320. Part 2: General
  321. 5Notice
  322. 6Applications
  323. 7Statutory statements
  324. 8Residual power
  325. Schedule 11: Minor and consequential amendments
  326. 1Settled Land Act 1925 (c. 18)
  327. 2Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20)
  328. 3Administration of Estates Act 1925 (c. 23)
  329. 4Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1945 (c. 43)
  330. 5Law of Property (Joint Tenants) Act 1964 (c. 63)
  331. 6Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
  332. 7Commons Registration Act 1965 (c. 64)
  333. 8Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (c. 88)
  334. 9Law of Property Act 1969 (c. 59)
  335. 10Land Charges Act 1972 (c. 61)
  336. 11Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c. 39)
  337. 12Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
  338. 13Local Land Charges Act 1975 (c. 76)
  339. 14Rent Act 1977 (c. 42)
  340. 15Charging Orders Act 1979 (c. 53)
  341. 16Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  342. 17Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (c. 51)
  343. 18Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
  344. 19Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53)
  345. 20Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (c. 31)
  346. 21Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 (c. 46)
  347. 22Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)
  348. 23Housing Act 1988 (c. 50)
  349. 24Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42)
  350. 25Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  351. 26Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 (c. 23)
  352. 27Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13)
  353. 28Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c. 8)
  354. 29Charities Act 1993 (c. 10) Repealed
  355. 30Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (c. 28)
  356. 31Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 (c. 36)
  357. 32Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (c. 37)
  358. 33Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 (c. 30)
  359. 34Family Law Act 1996 (c. 27)
  360. 35Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)
  361. 36Education Act 1996 (c. 56)
  362. 37School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)
  363. 38Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
  364. 39Finance Act 2000 (c. 17)
  365. 40International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)
  366. Schedule 12: Transition
  367. 1Existing entries in the register
  368. 2Paragraph 2
  369. 3Paragraph 3
  370. 4Existing cautions against first registration
  371. 5Pending applications
  372. 6Paragraph 6
  373. 7Former overriding interests
  374. 8Paragraph 8
  375. 9Paragraph 9
  376. 10Paragraph 10
  377. 11Paragraph 11
  378. 12Paragraph 12
  379. 13Paragraph 13
  380. 14Cautions against first registration
  381. 15Paragraph 15
  382. 16Paragraph 16
  383. 17Applications under section 34 or 43 by cautioners
  384. 18Adverse possession
  385. 19Indemnities
  386. 20Implied indemnity covenants on transfers of pre-1996 leases
  387. Schedule 13Repeals