Access to Deed - FirstActive said no

[Deleted User]

Not being funny but arent the deeds mine but kept as a security by my mortgage lender?

Phoned First Active today and said I'd like to arrange to see a copy and they said no. They said only way I could get a copy was to go via a solicitor.

!!!!!!? I appreciate there may be an admin charge involved but they cant say no, can they?

Senior_Paper_Monitor

Deeds don't exist (they are electronic now)

Go to Uk Land Registry and download for £4 an item (max of 3 items depending on what you want and type of property)

Public information

antrobus

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

Deeds don't exist (they are electronic now)....

Yes they do. Some properties have yet to make their way onto the LR. Depends on when OP acquired his property.

Senior_Paper_Monitor

correct but very few (when did First Active open - mid 1990s ?) - a very high likelihood that if the OP trys the Land Registry there docs will be on there.

But to make every one happy 'very few Deeds exist'

antrobus

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

correct but very few (when did First Active open - mid 1990s ?) -

It's complicated. First Active was an Irish building society formed in the 19thC that demutualised, became a Plc, and was eventually taken over by RBS in 2004 and merged with Ulster Bank. Along the way, it bought some UK operations in the mid 1990s and then sold them to Britannic, which is now Resolution, and might have done something with its non-inurance assets for all I know.

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

...
a very high likelihood that if the OP trys the Land Registry there docs will be on there.

Maybe. But First Active do seem rather keen to keep their mitts on the old deeds. Their enthusiasm would be somewhat misguided if that was the case.

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

...
But to make every one happy 'very few Deeds exist'

I've no idea as to what 'market penetration' is currently enjoyed by the LR. I do know that compulsory registration was phased in accross the country between about 1960 and 1990, even if there was a residue of 5% left unregistered that would be over a million properties.

[Deleted User]

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

Deeds don't exist (they are electronic now)

Go to Uk Land Registry and download for £4 an item (max of 3 items depending on what you want and type of property)

Public information

Tried that. For £4 all I got was a very high level diagram showing the rough plot of land.

What I want is details of boundaries etc. Im sure I saw such a thing at one time during the time I bought the actual house (12 years ago).

antrobus

[quote=[Deleted User];54752547]Tried that. For £4 all I got was a very high level diagram showing the rough plot of land.

What I want is details of boundaries etc. Im sure I saw such a thing at one time during the time I bought the actual house (12 years ago).[/QUOTE]

The way these things used to work was that the lender would hold onto the physical deeds like grim death and only release them either (a) when the loan was repaid or, (b) into the hands of a solicitor. They would, however, happily supply a photocopy of the deeds in return for the payment of some administrative charge.

I've no idea why First Active won't supply you with a copy. Perhaps they (or the particular individual who dealt with your original request) doesn't understand you only want a copy. You could try asking them again and using the word 'photocopy' to make it very obvious. If they continue to say 'no' then, depending on what legal entity actually holds you former First Active mortgage, you might be able to escalate a complaint to the FOS.

[Deleted User]

antrobus wrote: »

The way these things used to work was that the lender would hold onto the physical deeds like grim death and only release them either (a) when the loan was repaid or, (b) into the hands of a solicitor. They would, however, happily supply a photocopy of the deeds in return for the payment of some administrative charge.

I've no idea why First Active won't supply you with a copy. Perhaps they (or the particular individual who dealt with your original request) doesn't understand you only want a copy. You could try asking them again and using the word 'photocopy' to make it very obvious. If they continue to say 'no' then, depending on what legal entity actually holds you former First Active mortgage, you might be able to escalate a complaint to the FOS.

Think they were being dull. Kept going on about that I might try to amend them. Told him three times COPY not ORIGINAL.

Yorkie1

I wonder if it's to do with identification. You could be anyone, rather than someone entitled to the documents.

If you went to a solicitor in order to make the request, your identity could be checked out first?

[Deleted User]

I've actually found the documents I need at home now. I've got a plan which is what I wanted.

I'm trying to find out who owns the fences on either side of my property but there's nothing marked on the plans I have.

Is there anyway of determining? If there is nothing specific in the plans - can I assume anything?

antrobus

[quote=[Deleted User];54755177]I've actually found the documents I need at home now. I've got a plan which is what I wanted.

I'm trying to find out who owns the fences on either side of my property but there's nothing marked on the plans I have.

Is there anyway of determining? If there is nothing specific in the plans - can I assume anything?[/QUOTE]

If there's nothing marked on the deeds or title documents then I think the presumption is that it's your fence if the posts are on your side.