The Land Registration Rules 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These rules amend the Land Registration Rules 1925 so as to—

(a) implement the compulsory registration provisions of the Land Registration Act 1997 and the associated amendments to the Charities Act 1993;

(b) make provision for new forms of application for first registration, caution against first registration and registration of dealings with whole, new forms of transfer, assent and discharge of whole, new forms of transfer and assent of a registered charge, and a new list of documents form, and make associated amendments to certain existing prescribed forms;

(c) introduce common forms for freehold and leasehold dispositions;

(d) make new provision for the execution of discharges;

(e) make it unnecessary to enter on the register a description of the registered proprietor;

(f) require the entry on the register of a company’s registered number;

(g) make fresh provision for the modification of examination of title on first registration and as to the certificate to be provided;

(h) remove the registrar’s duty to advertise first registration applications;

(i) abolish priority notices against first registration and provisional possessory registration;

(j) make provision for Welsh language forms and instruments;

(k) make fresh provision for instruments for which no form is prescribed, for the registration of rentcharges, for exchanges, and for the entry of a restriction on first registration;

(l) dispense with the prescribed but voluntary form of charge (Form 45), and certain other seldom used forms;

(m) dispense with certain certificates.

The rules also revoke some obsolete provisions of the 1925 rules, and effect certain clarifications and minor improvements to those rules.

These rules do not provide new forms for dealings with part, which will continue to be carried out and submitted for registration on the existing forms. The process of providing new forms is intended to be completed by further rules.