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Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012

2012 asp 5 · Enacted 10 July 2012 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 9 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 4 March 2024.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 121(1)words insertedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 s. 43(4)(a)
s. 121(3)words substitutedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 s. 43(4)(b)(i)
s. 121(3)words substitutedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 s. 43(4)(b)(ii)
s. 48A 48B and cross-headinginsertedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 s. 43(2)
s. 116(3)(ba)(bb)insertedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 s. 43(3)
sch. 5 para. 8repealedTrusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 Sch. 2
s. 42(1)(c)(d)insertedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 3(9)(a)(ii)
s. 42(2)words insertedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 3(9)(b)
s. 42(1)word repealedLand Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 3(9)(a)(i)

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to reform and restate the law on the registration of rights to land in the land register; to enable electronic conveyancing and registration of electronic documents in the land register; to provide for the closure of the Register of Sasines in due course; to make provision about the functions of the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland; to allow electronic documents to be used for certain contracts, unilateral obligations and trusts that must be constituted by writing; to provide about the formal validity of electronic documents and for their registration; and for connected purposes.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 31st May 2012 and received Royal Assent on 10th July 2012C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (with modifications) (5.9.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), s. 69(1), Sch. 4 para. 11; S.I. 2022/876, reg. 4(c)

Contents

  1. Part 1: The Land Register
  2. The Land Register of Scotland
  3. 1The Land Register of Scotland
  4. Structure and contents of the register
  5. 2The parts of the register
  6. Title sheets and the title sheet record
  7. 3Title sheets and the title sheet record
  8. 4Title and lease title numbers
  9. 5Structure of title sheets
  10. 6The property section of the title sheet
  11. 7The proprietorship section of the title sheet
  12. 8The securities section of the title sheet
  13. 9The burdens section of the title sheet
  14. 10What is entered or incorporated by reference in a title sheet
  15. The cadastral map
  16. 11The cadastral map
  17. 12Cadastral units
  18. 13The cadastral map: further provision
  19. The archive record
  20. 14The archive record
  21. The application record
  22. 15The application record
  23. Tenements etc.
  24. 16Tenements and other flatted buildings
  25. Shared plots
  26. 17Shared plots
  27. 18Shared plot and sharing plot title sheets
  28. 19Conversion of shared plot title sheet to ordinary title sheet
  29. 20Shared plot title sheets in relation to registered leases
  30. Part 2: Registration
  31. Applications for registration
  32. 21Application for registration of deed
  33. 22General application conditions
  34. 23Conditions of registration: transfer of unregistered plot
  35. 24Circumstances in which section 25 applies
  36. 25Conditions of registration: certain deeds relating to unregistered plots
  37. 26Conditions of registration: deeds relating to registered plots
  38. Registration without deed
  39. 27Application for voluntary registration
  40. 28Conditions of registration: voluntary registration
  41. 29Keeper-induced registration
  42. Completion of registration
  43. 30Completion of registration of plot
  44. 31Completion of registration of deed
  45. 32References to certain entries in Register of Inhibitions
  46. General provision about applications
  47. 33Recording in application record
  48. 34Withdrawal and amendments etc. of application
  49. 35Period within which decision must be made
  50. Date of application and registration etc.
  51. 36Date of application
  52. 37Date and time of registration
  53. 38Power to amend section 6 of the Land Registers (Scotland) Act 1868
  54. Applications in relation to the same land
  55. 39Order in which applications are to be dealt with
  56. Notification
  57. 40Notification of acceptance, rejection or withdrawal of application
  58. 41Notification to proprietor
  59. 42Notification to Scottish Ministers of certain applications
  60. Prescriptive claimants etc.
  61. 43Prescriptive claimants
  62. 44Provisional entries on title sheet
  63. 45Notification of prescriptive applications
  64. Further provision
  65. 46Meaning of “disposition” in certain provisions
  66. 47Effect of death or dissolution
  67. Closure of Register of Sasines etc.
  68. 48Closure of Register of Sasines etc.
  69. Part 3: Competence and effect of registration
  70. Registrable deeds
  71. 49Registrable deeds
  72. Specific provisions on competence and effect of registration
  73. 50Transfer by disposition
  74. 51Proper liferents
  75. 52Registration of, and of transactions and events affecting, leases
  76. 53Completion of title
  77. 54Registration of decree of reduction
  78. 55Registration of order for rectification of document etc.
  79. Part 4: Advance notices
  80. 56Advance notices
  81. 57Application for advance notice
  82. 58Period of effect of advance notice
  83. 59Effect of advance notice: registered deeds
  84. 60Effect of advance notice: recorded deeds
  85. 61Effect of advance notice: further provision
  86. 62Removal of advance notice etc.
  87. 63Discharge of advance notice
  88. 64Application of Part to specific deeds
  89. Part 5: Inaccuracies in the register
  90. 65Meaning of “inaccuracy”
  91. 66Shifting boundaries
  92. Part 6: Caveats
  93. 67Warrant to place a caveat
  94. 68Duration of caveat
  95. 69Renewal of caveat
  96. 70Restriction of caveat
  97. 71Recall of caveat
  98. 72Discharge of caveat
  99. Part 7: Keeper's warranty
  100. Keeper's warranty
  101. 73Keeper's warranty
  102. 74Keeper's warranty on registration under sections 25 and 29
  103. 75Extension, limitation or exclusion of warranty
  104. 76Variation of warranty
  105. Claims under warranty
  106. 77Claims under Keeper's warranty
  107. 78Claims under warranty: circumstances where liability excluded
  108. 79Claims under warranty: quantification of compensation
  109. Part 8: Rectification of the register
  110. Rectification
  111. 80Rectification of the register
  112. 81Rectification where registration provisional etc.
  113. Referral of questions to Lands Tribunal
  114. 82Referral to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland
  115. Keeper's right to be heard in proceedings
  116. 83Proceedings involving the accuracy of the register
  117. Compensation in consequence of rectification
  118. 84Rectification: compensation for certain expenses and losses
  119. 85Rectification: circumstances where liability excluded
  120. Part 9: Rights of persons acquiring etc. in good faith
  121. Ownership
  122. 86Acquisition from disponer without valid title
  123. 87Acquisition from representative of disponer without valid title
  124. Leases
  125. 88Acquisition from assigner without valid title
  126. 89Acquisition from representative of assigner without valid title
  127. Servitudes
  128. 90Grant of servitude by person not proprietor
  129. Extinction of encumbrances etc.
  130. 91Extinction of encumbrance when land disponed
  131. 92Extinction of encumbrance when lease assigned
  132. 93Extinction of floating charge when land disponed
  133. Compensation in consequence of this Part
  134. 94Compensation for loss incurred in consequence of this Part
  135. 95Quantification of compensation
  136. Part 10: Electronic documents, electronic conveyancing and electronic registration
  137. Electronic documents
  138. 96Where requirement for writing satisfied by electronic document
  139. 97Electronic documents
  140. 98Amendment of Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995
  141. Electronic conveyancing
  142. 99Automated registration
  143. Electronic recording and registration
  144. 100Power to enable electronic registration
  145. Part 11: Miscellaneous and general
  146. Deduction of title
  147. 101Deduction of title
  148. Notes on register
  149. 102Note of date on which entry in register is made
  150. Appeals
  151. 103Appeals
  152. Extracts and certified copies
  153. 104Extracts and certified copies: general
  154. 105Evidential status of extract or certified copy
  155. 106Liability of Keeper in respect of extracts, information and lost documents etc.
  156. Information and access
  157. 107Information and access
  158. Keeper's functions
  159. 108Provision of services by the Keeper
  160. 109Performance of Keeper's functions during vacancy in office etc.
  161. Fees
  162. 110Fees
  163. Duty to take reasonable care
  164. 111Duties of certain persons
  165. Offences
  166. 112Offence relating to applications for registration
  167. 112AOffence by overseas entity
  168. General provisions
  169. 113Interpretation
  170. 114References to “registering” etc. in the Land Register of Scotland
  171. 115Land register rules
  172. 116Subordinate legislation
  173. 117Ancillary provision
  174. 118Transitional provisions
  175. 119Minor and consequential modifications
  176. 120Saving provisions
  177. 121Crown application
  178. 122The designated day
  179. 123Commencement
  180. 124Short title
  181. Schedule 1: Registered leases tenanted in common
  182. Shared leases
  183. 1Paragraph 1
  184. 2Paragraph 2
  185. 3Paragraph 3
  186. 4Paragraph 4
  187. 5Paragraph 5
  188. Shared lease and sharing lease title sheets
  189. 6Paragraph 6
  190. 7Paragraph 7
  191. 8Paragraph 8
  192. 9Paragraph 9
  193. 10Paragraph 10
  194. Conversion of shared lease title sheet to ordinary lease title sheet
  195. 11Paragraph 11
  196. 12Paragraph 12
  197. Schedule 1A: Land transactions: overseas entities
  198. 1Cases where Keeper must reject application under section 21
  199. 2Cases where Keeper must reject application under section 21
  200. 3Cases where Keeper must reject application to register notice of title
  201. 4Cases where Keeper must reject application to register notice of title
  202. 5Case where Keeper must reject prescriptive application
  203. 6Case where Keeper must reject voluntary application
  204. 7Consent to registration of certain deeds that cannot otherwise be registered
  205. 8Partially executed deeds
  206. 9Interpretation
  207. Schedule 2: Amendment of Registration of Leases (Scotland) Act 1857
  208. 1Paragraph 1
  209. 2Paragraph 2
  210. 3Paragraph 3
  211. 4Paragraph 4
  212. 5Paragraph 5
  213. 6Paragraph 6
  214. 7Paragraph 7
  215. 8Paragraph 8
  216. 9Paragraph 9
  217. 10Paragraph 10
  218. 11Paragraph 11
  219. 12Paragraph 12
  220. 13Paragraph 13
  221. 14Paragraph 14
  222. 15Paragraph 15
  223. 16Paragraph 16
  224. 17Paragraph 17
  225. 18Paragraph 18
  226. 19Paragraph 19
  227. 20Paragraph 20
  228. 21Paragraph 21
  229. 22Paragraph 22
  230. 23Paragraph 23
  231. Schedule 3: Amendment of Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995
  232. 1Paragraph 1
  233. 2Paragraph 2
  234. 3Paragraph 3
  235. 4Paragraph 4
  236. 5Paragraph 5
  237. 6Paragraph 6
  238. 7Paragraph 7
  239. 8Paragraph 8
  240. 9Paragraph 9
  241. 10Paragraph 10
  242. 11Paragraph 11
  243. 12Paragraph 12
  244. 13Paragraph 13
  245. 14Paragraph 14
  246. 15Paragraph 15
  247. 16Paragraph 16
  248. 17Paragraph 17
  249. 18Paragraph 18
  250. 19Paragraph 19
  251. 20Paragraph 20
  252. 21Paragraph 21
  253. 22Paragraph 22
  254. 23Paragraph 23
  255. 24Paragraph 24
  256. 25Paragraph 25
  257. 26Paragraph 26
  258. 27Paragraph 27
  259. Schedule 4: Transitional provisions
  260. Existing title sheets
  261. 1Paragraph 1
  262. 2Paragraph 2
  263. 3Paragraph 3
  264. 4Paragraph 4
  265. 5Paragraph 5
  266. 6Paragraph 6
  267. Common areas: general
  268. 7Paragraph 7
  269. 8Paragraph 8
  270. Common areas: developments begun before designated day
  271. 9Paragraph 9
  272. 10Paragraph 10
  273. 11Paragraph 11
  274. Common areas: Sasine arrangements
  275. 11AParagraph 11A
  276. Certain deeds relating to registered leases: Sasine arrangements
  277. 11BParagraph 11B
  278. Archive record
  279. 12Paragraph 12
  280. Pending applications
  281. 13Paragraph 13
  282. 14Paragraph 14
  283. Claims under the 1979 Act
  284. 15Paragraph 15
  285. 16Paragraph 16
  286. Bijural inaccuracies
  287. 17Paragraph 17
  288. 18Paragraph 18
  289. 19Paragraph 19
  290. 20Paragraph 20
  291. 21Paragraph 21
  292. 22Paragraph 22
  293. 23Paragraph 23
  294. 24Paragraph 24
  295. Depiction of tenement etc.
  296. 25Paragraph 25
  297. Schedule 5: Minor and consequential modifications
  298. Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 (c.19)
  299. 1Paragraph 1
  300. Commissioners Clauses Act 1847 (c.16)
  301. 2Paragraph 2
  302. Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 (c.117)
  303. 3Paragraph 3
  304. Transmission of Moveable Property (Scotland) Act 1862 (c.85)
  305. 4Paragraph 4
  306. Land Registers (Scotland) Act 1868 (c.64)
  307. 5Paragraph 5
  308. Titles to Land Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1868 (c.101)
  309. 6Paragraph 6
  310. Conveyancing (Scotland) Act 1874 (c.94)
  311. 7Paragraph 7
  312. Trusts (Scotland) Act 1921 (c.58)
  313. 8Paragraph 8
  314. Conveyancing (Scotland) Act 1924 (c.27)
  315. 9Paragraph 9
  316. Burgh Registers (Scotland) Act 1926 (c.50)
  317. 10Paragraph 10
  318. Public Registers and Records (Scotland) Act 1948 (c.57)
  319. 11Paragraph 11
  320. Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1958 (c.24)
  321. 12Paragraph 12
  322. Harbours Act 1964 (c.40)
  323. 13Paragraph 13
  324. Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 (c.41)
  325. 14Paragraph 14
  326. Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (c.12)
  327. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  328. Gas Act 1965 (c.36)
  329. 16Paragraph 16
  330. Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 (c.35)
  331. 17Paragraph 17
  332. Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 (c.52)
  333. 18Paragraph 18
  334. Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 (c.33)
  335. 19Paragraph 19
  336. Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c.44)
  337. 20Paragraph 20
  338. Water (Scotland) Act 1980 (c.45)
  339. 21Paragraph 21
  340. Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 (c.59)
  341. 22Paragraph 22
  342. Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c.16)
  343. 23Paragraph 23
  344. Litter Act 1983 (c.35)
  345. 24Paragraph 24
  346. Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 (c.41)
  347. 25Paragraph 25
  348. Telecommunications Act 1984 (c.12)
  349. 26Paragraph 26
  350. Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (c.42)
  351. 27Paragraph 27
  352. Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.66)
  353. 28Paragraph 28
  354. Housing Associations Act 1985 (c.69)
  355. 29Paragraph 29
  356. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions)(Scotland) Act 1985 (c.73)
  357. 30Paragraph 30
  358. Electricity Act 1989 (c.29)
  359. 31Paragraph 31
  360. Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 (c.29) Not yet in force
  361. 32Paragraph 32 Not yet in force
  362. Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 (c.55)
  363. 33Paragraph 33
  364. Coal Industry Act 1994 (c.21)
  365. 34Paragraph 34
  366. Land Registers (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.14)
  367. 35Paragraph 35
  368. Petroleum Act 1998 (c.17)
  369. 36Paragraph 36
  370. Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 1)
  371. 37Paragraph 37
  372. Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 4)
  373. 38Paragraph 38
  374. Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 5)
  375. 39Paragraph 39
  376. Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 (asp 6)
  377. 40Paragraph 40
  378. National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 10)
  379. 41Paragraph 41
  380. Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10)
  381. 42Paragraph 42
  382. Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 9)
  383. 43Paragraph 43
  384. Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c.33)
  385. 44Paragraph 44
  386. Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2004 (asp 10)
  387. 45Paragraph 45
  388. Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 11)
  389. 46Paragraph 46
  390. Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Act 2006 (asp 6)
  391. 47Paragraph 47
  392. Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Act 2006 (asp 7)
  393. 48Paragraph 48
  394. Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 13)
  395. 49Paragraph 49
  396. Companies Act 2006 (c.46)
  397. 50Paragraph 50
  398. Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 (asp 1)
  399. 51Paragraph 51
  400. Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3)
  401. 52Paragraph 52
  402. Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Act 2007 (asp 16)
  403. 53Paragraph 53
  404. Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2007 (asp 19)
  405. 54Paragraph 54
  406. Energy Act 2008 (c.32)
  407. 55Paragraph 55