Access to property information now easier - 7th February 2005

The Government’s Land Registry department has recently (31 January 2005) introduced its first online service aimed at the general public. Land Register Online (www.landregisteronline.gov.uk) provides easy access to details of more than 19 million registered properties in England and Wales. For a £2 fee, users can download copies of title plans and registers, which give property ownership details and, where available, details of the price paid at the time of completion. Previously, this information was only available to solicitors and property professionals.

Conveyancing specialist, Gary Hope, at Wards’ Broad Street office says: “We welcome this new service. The public is likely to use the information for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use it as part of the early sales process, to check the validity of varying estate agent’s valuations.

If you are owed money or have a dispute, you can check who owns the property and whether or not they still live at the address. These details would also be useful if you need to obtain planning permission for home improvements or an extension and have to serve notice on those affected.

All in all, we expect it will help speed up property transactions and may be useful for both planning and dispute purposes.”