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UK Act of Parliament
2002
United Kingdom
Land Registration Act 2002
At a glance
What's here
43 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 1 journey
Penalty landscape
2 of 43 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 1 carries different penalties and 40 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 21
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 21 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Preliminary
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Register of title
Scope of title registration
Part 2 — First registration of title
Duty to apply for registration of title
- Register land title with HM Land Registry within 2 months of transfer or mortgage Any Person
Liability for making good void transfers
- Pay costs and indemnify if registration failure voids a transfer Any Person
Effect
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must notify cautioners of first registration applications Statutory regulator
Cancellation
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must cancel caution after application if no objection within prescribed period Statutory regulator
Cautions register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registry must maintain a register of cautions against first registration Statutory regulator
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
When title may be registered
When title must be registered
Power to extend section 4
Effect of non-compliance with section 6
Titles to freehold estates
Titles to leasehold estates
Freehold estates
Leasehold estates
Appurtenant rights and charges
Rules about first registration
Right to lodge
Withdrawal
Alteration of register by court
Alteration of register by registrar
Supplementary
Part 3 — Dispositions of registered land
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Owner’s powers
Right to exercise owner’s powers
Mode of exercise
Protection of disponees
Dispositions required to be registered
Basic rule
Effect of registered dispositions: estates
Effect of registered dispositions: charges
Inland Revenue charges
Part 4 — Notices and restrictions
Unilateral notices
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- The land registrar must notify the property owner when a unilateral notice has been entered on their title Statutory regulator
Unregistered interests
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar may enter notice for unregistered interests Statutory regulator
Registrable dispositions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must enter a notice in the register for certain dispositions Statutory regulator
Power of registrar to enter
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must notify you of any restriction entered on your land Crown / Minister / Government department
Obligatory restrictions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must add restrictions for co-owned land to protect overreaching interests Statutory regulator
Notifiable applications
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must notify proprietors of notifiable applications and wait before deciding Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Nature and effect
Excluded interests
Entry on application
Cancellation of unilateral notices
Supplementary
Nature
Effect
Applications
Power of court to order entry
Withdrawal
Part 5 — Charges
Overriding statutory charges: duty of notification
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registrar must notify charge-holders of overriding statutory charges Crown / Minister / Government department
Proceeds of sale: chargee’s duty
- Check the register before dealing with sale proceeds of registered land Any Person
Local land charges
- Register title to a local land charge before enforcing it Any Person
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6 — Registration: general
Dependent estates
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registry must link dependent estates, charges and sub-charges to the correct registered estate Crown / Minister / Government department
Boundaries
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must make rules allowing boundary determination applications Crown / Minister / Government department
Index
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must keep an index of land registration information Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty to disclose unregistered interests
- Disclose unregistered interests when applying for land registration Any Person
Duty to act reasonably
- Have reasonable cause before using certain land registration rights Any Person
Browse 16 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Conclusiveness
Accretion and diluvion
Power to upgrade title
Effect of upgrading title
Use of register to record defects in title
Alteration of register
Inspection of the registers etc
Official copies of the registers etc
Historical information
Official searches
Priority protection
Objections
Effective date of registration
Production of documents
Costs
Notice of trust not to affect registrar
Part 7 — Special cases
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Voluntary registration of demesne land
Compulsory registration of grants out of demesne land
Demesne land: cautions against first registration
Escheat etc
Crown and Duchy land: representation
Disapplication of requirements relating to Duchy land
Bona vacantia
Overseas entities
Bankruptcy
Pending land actions, writs, orders and deeds of arrangement
Incorporeal hereditaments
Settlements
PPP leases relating to transport in London
Part 8 — Electronic conveyancing
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Electronic dispositions: formalities
Land registry network
Power to require simultaneous registration
Electronic settlement
Supplementary
Part 9 — Adverse possession
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Disapplication of periods of limitation
Registration of adverse possessor
Defences
Part 10 — Land registry
Annual report
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must produce and publish annual report on land registry business Statutory regulator
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The land registry
Conduct of business
Fee orders
Indemnities
General information about land
Services relating to land or other property
Incidental powers: companies
Part 11 — Adjudication
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The adjudicator
Jurisdiction
Procedure
Functions in relation to disputes
Appeals
Enforcement of orders etc
Fees
Supplementary
Part 12 — Miscellaneous and general
Suppression of information
2 years imprisonment- Suppress information in land registration proceedings Any Person
Improper alteration of the registers
2 years imprisonment- Dishonestly alter or induce alteration of the land register Any Person
Crown application
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registration Act 2002 applies to the Crown Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 19 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Rights of pre-emption
Proprietary estoppel and mere equities
Reduction in unregistered interests with automatic protection
Power to reduce qualifying term
Power to deregister manors
Conclusiveness of filed copies etc
Forwarding of applications to registrar of companies
Repeal of Land Registry Act 1862
Privilege against self-incrimination
Miscellaneous and general powers
Exercise of powers
Rules, regulations and orders
Application to internal waters
“Proprietor in possession”
General interpretation
Minor and consequential amendments
Transition
Repeals
Short title, commencement and extent
Schedules
Transfer
- Register your ownership after a land transfer Any Person
Creation of sub-charge
- Register your sub-charge with HM Land Registry as proprietor Any Person
Transfer
- Register your ownership of transferred land at HM Land Registry Any Person
Lease of estate in land
- Register your lease as proprietor and enter a notice at HM Land Registry Any Person
Lease of franchise or manor
- Register leasehold interest in franchise or manor with Land Registry Any Person
(1) This paragraph applies to a disposition consisting of the...
- Enter a notice in the register for short leases from a franchise or manor Any Person
Creation of independently registrable legal interest
- Register legal rentcharges and profits a prendre in gross at HM Land Registry Any Person
Creation of other legal interest
- Register certain legal interests created by disposition of registered land Any Person
Creation of legal charge
- Register as proprietor of a legal charge at HM Land Registry Any Person
Restrictions on disposal
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must enter restriction on land register for overseas entities registered since 1999 Statutory regulator
Making dispositions that cannot be registered
5 years imprisonment- Make prohibited registrable disposition of land Director or Officer
(1) For the purpose of this Schedule, an overseas entity...
- File updates and respond to information requests to maintain registered overseas entity status Any Person
Access to network
- Obtain a network access agreement before using the land registry network Any Person
Terms of access
- Comply with Land Registry network access rules and terms Any Person
Do-it-yourself conveyancing
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must assist DIY conveyancing via land registry network Crown / Minister / Government department
Presumption of authority
- Network agents are presumed to have authority when they say so Any Person
Notification of application
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registry must notify property owners of adverse possession applications Crown / Minister / Government department
If an application under paragraph 1 is not required to...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Registrar must enter applicant as new proprietor when no special procedure applies Crown / Minister / Government department
Entitlement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Land Registry must indemnify persons who suffer loss due to register errors or mistakes Crown / Minister / Government department
Adverse possession
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Court must order registration of former trust holders in possession cases Tribunal / Court
Browse 163 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Leasehold estates in land
Miscellaneous
A manorial right.
A right to rent which was reserved to the Crown...
A non-statutory right in respect of an embankment or sea...
A right to payment in lieu of tithe.
A right in respect of the repair of a church...
Relevant social housing tenancies
Interests of persons in actual occupation
Easements and profits a prendre
Customary and public rights
A public right.
Local land charges
Mines and minerals
In the case of land to which title was registered...
In the case of land to which title was registered...
Introductory
Introductory
Leasehold estates in land
Miscellaneous
A manorial right.
A right to rent which was reserved to the Crown...
A non-statutory right in respect of an embankment or sea...
A right to payment in lieu of tithe.
A right in respect of the repair of a church...
Relevant social housing tenancies
Interests of persons in actual occupation
Easements and profits a prendre
Customary and public rights
A public right.
Local land charges
Mines and minerals
In the case of land to which title was registered...
In the case of land to which title was registered...
Introductory
Alteration pursuant to a court order
(1) This paragraph applies to the power under paragraph 2,...
Rules may— (a) make provision about the circumstances in which...
Alteration otherwise than pursuant to a court order
(1) This paragraph applies to the power under paragraph 5,...
Rules may— (a) make provision about the circumstances in which...
Rectification and derivative interests
Costs in non-rectification cases
Meaning of “qualifying estate”
Registration
Registrable dispositions by overseas entity entitled to be registered (but not registered)
Consent to registration of dispositions that cannot otherwise be registered
Interpretation etc.
Supplementary
(1) Power to make rules under paragraph 1, 2 or...
In this Schedule— “land registry network” means a network provided...
Termination of access
Appeals
Network transaction rules
Overriding nature of network access obligations
Management of network transactions
Right to apply for registration
Apportionment and discharge of charges
Meaning of “adverse possession”
Trusts
Crown foreshore
Rentcharges
Procedure
Extension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes
Treatment of application
(1) If an application under paragraph 1 is required to...
Right to make further application for registration
If a person makes an application under paragraph 6, he...
Restriction on applications
Effect of registration
Holding of office by Chief Land Registrar
Remuneration etc. of Chief Land Registrar
Staff
Indemnity for members
Seal
Documentary evidence
Parliamentary disqualification
Recovery of indemnity by registrar
Interpretation
Mines and minerals
Costs
(1) If no indemnity is payable to a claimant under...
Claimant’s fraud or lack of care
Valuation of estates etc.
Determination of indemnity by court
Time limits
Interest
Holding of office
Remuneration
Staff
Conduct of business
The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision about the...
Finances
The Lord Chancellor may require the registrar to make payments...
Application of Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992
Parliamentary disqualification
Dealings with estates subject to compulsory first registration
Regulation of title matters between sellers and buyers
Implied covenants
Land certificates
Notice
Applications
Statutory statements
Residual power
Settled Land Act 1925 (c. 18)
Land Charges Act 1972 (c. 61)
Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c. 39)
Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
Local Land Charges Act 1975 (c. 76)
Rent Act 1977 (c. 42)
Charging Orders Act 1979 (c. 53)
Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (c. 51)
Housing Act 1985 (c. 68)
Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53)
Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20)
Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (c. 31)
Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 (c. 46)
Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)
Housing Act 1988 (c. 50)
Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c. 42)
Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 (c. 23)
Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13)
Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c. 8)
Charities Act 1993 (c. 10)
Administration of Estates Act 1925 (c. 23)
Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (c. 28)
Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 (c. 36)
Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (c. 37)
Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 (c. 30)
Family Law Act 1996 (c. 27)
Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)
Education Act 1996 (c. 56)
School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)
Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
Finance Act 2000 (c. 17)
Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1945 (c. 43)
International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)
Law of Property (Joint Tenants) Act 1964 (c. 63)
Gas Act 1965 (c. 36)
Commons Registration Act 1965 (c. 64)
Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (c. 88)
Law of Property Act 1969 (c. 59)
Existing entries in the register
For the period of three years beginning with the day...
For the period of three years beginning with the day...
Paragraph 1 of each of Schedules 1 and 3 shall...
Paragraph 6 of each of Schedules 1 and 3 shall...
Cautions against first registration
(1) As applied by section 81, section 15 has effect...
This Act shall apply as if the definition of “caution...
Applications under section 34 or 43 by cautioners
Indemnities
(1) This Act applies to notices entered under the Land...
Implied indemnity covenants on transfers of pre-1996 leases
An entry in the register which, immediately before the repeal...
Existing cautions against first registration
Pending applications
Notwithstanding the repeal of section 53 of the Land Registration...
Former overriding interests
Schedule 3 has effect with the insertion after paragraph 2...
(1) This paragraph applies to an easement or profit a...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- SRA | Firm authorisation (opens in a new tab) from SRA Detailed Guidance
- Reserved legal activities (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
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