FTB quick question re title deed

stinabean

Hello

Just a quick one, received loads of forms to fill in today and as a FTB I am clueless. I thought this a bit odd, but maybe it's the norm:

We can provide you with details of the updated Title Register in a title document, confirming you as the registered owner of the property, for a fee of £30 plus VAT. This is very useful for future reference.

If my name will be on it, shouldn't that be my property regardless? Sorry if silly Q!

ukmike

Just buy it yourself for £3.

da_rule

As has been said, wait a few months after you purchase the property and you can purchase it yourself directly from the Land Registry for £3.

stinabean

Amazing, I had a feeling I could just get it myself! Thanks both!

G_M

Errrr.... it will cost £6 (here).

£3 for the Title document and £3 for the associated Title Plan!

Who sent you this offer? Your conveyancer? I would have expected them to provide you with a copy post-Completion as part of the conveyancing process, and within whatever fee they are charging. Sounds like a cheap online conveyancing warehouse trying to bump up their (overly cheap) fee......

What else are they going to charge extra for? Completing the SDLT return?

stinabean

Yeah it was a last little bit from our solicitors on a "client questionnaire" to fill in.

£6 is still better than £30 - I was surprised they were charging! I shall not be agreeing to that. Not a cheapo company as far as I'm aware, was recomended by our broker and have heard other good things.

G_M

I'd be tempted to say no, but write a covering letter when you return the questionaire saying you expect the Completion papers to include a copy of the registered Title.

If they agree, great; if not, £6 to the Land Registry.

davidmcn

Out of interest, what does the party who submits the application get back from the Land Registry to confirm that registration has been completed?

bobobski

davidmcn wrote: »

Out of interest, what does the party who submits the application get back from the Land Registry to confirm that registration has been completed?

A "title information document" which doesn't contain any useful information and a copy of the updated register of title, so they don't need to order another one (in effect, the copy of the register is included within the application fee to register the transfer). So it will not cost the solicitors anything except the cost of scanning (likely 0.000000001p, if that) to give OP a pdf copy.

davidmcn

bobobski wrote: »

A "title information document" which doesn't contain any useful information and a copy of the updated register of title, so they don't need to order another one (in effect, the copy of the register is included within the application fee to register the transfer). So it will not cost the solicitors anything except the cost of scanning (likely 0.000000001p, if that) to give OP a pdf copy.

As I suspected. In Scotland it's now a pdf we get from the registers, so no need even to scan - could be a profitable exercise if I charge £30 to forward the attachment...

bobobski

davidmcn wrote: »

As I suspected. In Scotland it's now a pdf we get from the registers, so no need even to scan - could be a profitable exercise if I charge £30 to forward the attachment...

If the solicitor lodged the application electronically with the Land Registry they'll get pdf documents back, but most are behind and use the postal system as far as I'm aware - and that costs the buyer twice as much in application fee. If (when!) I'm finally able to buy a house, asking whether the solicitor uses the LR's e-portal is on my list of questions

But seriously, £30 is insane to give the client a document you already have.