Where do I keep my house deeds?

googler

Keep ours in a fireproof box. Don't care whether they're electronic or not, I like paperwork, and I like the historical interest, too.

bruich76

If its unregistered best place them with your solicitor... that way they are insured under someone else's insurance if they get lost, damaged or destroyed.

AdrianC

bruich76 wrote: »

If its unregistered best place them with your solicitor... that way they are insured under someone else's insurance if they get lost, damaged or destroyed.

It's probably just easier to voluntarily register. It'll save time when you come to sell eventually...

davidmcn

bruich76 wrote: »

If its unregistered best place them with your solicitor... that way they are insured under someone else's insurance if they get lost, damaged or destroyed.

Their insurance isn't going to cover your property, though you might be able to claim against them if there is actually negligence involved.

Rambosmum

bruich76 wrote: »

If its unregistered best place them with your solicitor... that way they are insured under someone else's insurance if they get lost, damaged or destroyed.

who will charge you for the privilege if they'll take them at all.

moneyistooshorttomention

Even though my current house and last house were both registered with the Land Registry - I still like to keep my deeds.

I just keep them in a boxfile (or two) at home. With my property being Registered - I don't have to keep them. However, it's surprising how often a question comes up that might be able to be answered by the original paper Deeds.

On current house, for instance, it's very clear exactly where my boundaries are and I was, accordingly, able to stop neighbours using a bit of my garden they had been using. Fortunately, they hadn't been able to put in an "adverse possession claim" for that part of my garden and so it was, comparatively speaking, easy to get it back again. As it was so clear - then it was just down to being very determined and starting using it myself and I got it back again.

So - moral of this being = you never know when the original Deeds will be handy.

bruich76

AdrianC wrote: »

It's probably just easier to voluntarily register. It'll save time when you come to sell eventually...

Being a solicitor; this is not true. The process now takes up to 8 months. The LR simply have put first registrations to the back of everything else that they do. There's also fees involved.

davidmcn wrote: »

Their insurance isn't going to cover your property, though you might be able to claim against them if there is actually negligence involved.

Solicitors have to keep Deeds in fire safe storage facilities. It's unlikely that anything would happen to them but, yes, Deeds are covered by their insurance. They wouldn't be covered to the same extent under your own house insurance.

Rambosmum wrote: »

who will charge you for the privilege if they'll take them at all.

No solicitors I know would charge for it. I certainly wouldn't.

G_M

It's probably just easier to voluntarily register. It'll save time when you come to sell eventually...

bruich76 wrote: »

Being a solicitor; this is not true. The process now takes up to 8 months. The LR simply have put first registrations to the back of everything else that they do. There's also fees involved.

Is that a typo? You mean it IS true. Or else you mean 'voluntary first registrations' go to the back of the queue.

Surely if the OP does the 8 month first registration process now, then it WILL save time when he eventually comes to sell.....

OP - first thing I'd do is check if the property is registered or not (unless you already know). £3 online here.

If not registered, then either register it yourself, or store the Deeds safely (fireproof safe, solicitor etc).

If registered, the critical ownership evidence is held by the Land Registry electroncally, so whilst your paper Deeds may have value/importance/interest, they are less critical so could be stored in a drawer/the attic etc.

louiserace

Many thanks for everyone's advice.

I received a letter from the Land Registry to say that they were removing the mortgage flag on my property. I assume that this mean that they hold copies of my deeds?

G_M

louiserace wrote: »

Many thanks for everyone's advice.

I received a letter from the Land Registry to say that they were removing the mortgage flag on my property. I assume that this mean that they hold copies of my deeds?

Yes.

Though what they hold is an electronic Title of the property.

If only for interest I'd recommend you pay the £3 and get a copy.