Deeds to house, Halifax dont store them anymore, what to do?

Lady_K

My mortgage is due to end and Halifax have told me they no longer store deeds either paper or electronic. They said they send them out by registered post shortly afterwards and they are then my responsibility.


What is the best thing to do with them in case of fire, burglary etc?

JJ_Egan

Try your Bank .

HappyMJ

If you wish to keep them you'll need to store them in a fireproof safe but that'll cost you much more than they're worth.

I'd just scan them and store them electronically online and keep the paper copies somewhere relatively safe.

Lady_K

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Try your Bank .

Its the same, Halifax so they wont do it

kingstreet

Lady_K wrote: »

Its the same, Halifax so they wont do it

Have you asked your branch if it has safe deposit facilities, or are you assuming because the organisation no longer has a deeds store, it has no safekeeping facilities at all?

Is this registered land? Freehold or leasehold?

As registration of title is now electronic, unless there are copies of the lease and/or other covenants in the pack, the deeds envelope is no longer vital to the process of transferring ownership.

scottiescott

I paid off the remaining balance on my mortgage a few weeks ago and to date havn't heard a cheep from my lender (Nationwide).
Obviously I'll pop in next time I'm in town to see what I need to sign or whatever but what exactly is the process for recording that I am now MORTGAGE FREE!!
I am in Scotland.
Thanks.

McKneff

They are not that important anymore.


All (or should I say the majority) are stored electronically at the land registry.


Mine are in an A to Z file in my paper rack in the sitting room along with copies of our wills because the originals of those are with solicitors....

kingstreet

scottiescott wrote: »

I paid off the remaining balance on my mortgage a few weeks ago and to date havn't heard a cheep from my lender (Nationwide).
Obviously I'll pop in next time I'm in town to see what I need to sign or whatever but what exactly is the process for recording that I am now MORTGAGE FREE!!
I am in Scotland.
Thanks.

The lender removes its charge over the property and confirms this to the Land Registry (or its Scots equivalent up there).

If it didn't have a deeds pack in storage, perhaps because the mortgage started well after registration, there will be nothing for it to send you.

Goldiegirl

McKneff wrote: »

They are not that important anymore.


All (or should I say the majority) are stored electronically at the land registry.


Mine are in an A to Z file in my paper rack in the sitting room along with copies of our wills because the originals of those are with solicitors....

^^


This


The Title Deeds are no longer needed to prove ownership of the house - nowadays they are just historic documents that are nice to have.


I just keep mine with the rest of my personal papers

Lady_K

kingstreet wrote: »

Have you asked your branch if it has safe deposit facilities, or are you assuming because the organisation no longer has a deeds store, it has no safekeeping facilities at all?

Is this registered land? Freehold or leasehold?

As registration of title is now electronic, unless there are copies of the lease and/or other covenants in the pack, the deeds envelope is no longer vital to the process of transferring ownership.

I think its freehold, the lady at Halifax seemed to be saying it wouldn't be registered with the land registry for some reason to do with it being 25yrs but you never know with Halifax they give incorrect info out all the time.


Perhaps I should contact the land registry then but if its not with them does it mean I might have to see a solicitor as I am housebound, could anyone do it for me as I'm sure a home visit would be expensive?

Goldiegirl

If the property is unregistered, then the Deeds ARE important.


If you are not sure, then yes, do contact the Lard Registry to find out.


I don't think it is too difficult to register the property yourself - A Land Registry Representative often posts on the board, so hopefully he/she will be along to help.


For information, 25 years ago the vast majority of properties in mortgage to the Halifax were registered..... it was as rare as a hen's tooth to find a mortgage that was on an unregistered property. ( I worked for the Halifax for many years)