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What is land registration?

Land registration is the process of recording ownership of land or property with HM Land Registry. Once registered, your title is guaranteed by the state and stored electronically - making it easier to prove ownership, protect against fraud, and manage your estate.

We can help with

Registering your property after completion
We’ll submit the application and send you the official Title Information Document confirming your ownership.
Voluntary first registration
If your land or property is currently unregistered, we can help you register it voluntarily - unlocking a range of benefits.
Reconstructing title where deeds are missing
We’ll guide you through the process of proving ownership and applying for possessory title if your original deeds have been lost or destroyed.

Benefits of first registration

Your title is guaranteed by HM Land Registry
Protection against property fraud
No risk of losing paper deeds - everything is stored digitally
Easier to sell or transfer your property in the future
Helps resolve any unknown title issues early
Supports better estate planning and record keeping
25% discount on Land Registry fees for voluntary registration

What if the deeds are missing?

If your deeds are lost, we’ll help you:

Provide a Statement of Truth
Explaining how and when the deeds were lost, with supporting evidence.
Reconstruct the title
Using any available copies, solicitor records, or mortgage documents. We’ll also gather evidence of your possession (e.g. utility bills, plans, or surveys).
Prove your identity
As part of the application process.

In most cases, the Land Registry will grant a possessory title, which can be upgraded to absolute title after 12 years. If you plan to sell before then, we can arrange an indemnity policy to protect the buyer.

Why Choose Porter Dodson?

Specialist advice on all aspects of land registration

Support with complex cases, including missing deeds

Joined-up service with our private client and property teams

Offices across Somerset, Devon and Dorset, with remote support available nationwide

Reena and Beckie communicated promptly and effectively with both the progress and problems during the house sale, enabling the process to keep moving. The sale proceeded in a timely and organised manner. A highly professional team. Thank you both.

Mercer

Porter Dodson Solicitors have been a great help to us for the past 12 years. We have recently been very lucky to have Reena Raval from the Sherborne branch helping us with a property. Reena kept us updated at every step, explained everything very clearly with great communication and made the whole process feel completely manageable for us to understand. Reena dealt with our paperwork very swiftly and kept us updated with clear costings. Highly recommended!

Residential Client

Solicitor Reena Raval handled a house sale for us with exemplary efficiency and care, keeping us informed at every stage, and answering our questions clearly and with good humour. Our thanks to her, to her paralegal Beckie Old and to all the team. We strongly recommend Porter Dodson for conveyancing and other legal services.

David

When we had to sell my late mums home, Jenny and Emma walked me through buying and selling. Couldn't have asked for better help, would highly recommend the firm to anyone.

Stephen