http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/9/section/23/notesLand registrationLegislationHistoryLand searchesExplanatory Notes to Land Registration Act 2002Lord Chancellor's DepartmentKing's Printer of Acts of Parliament2016-09-05 9 26 February 2002 55 This section states the unlimited powers of an owner. It makes one change to the current law. Under the existing law, there is a presumption that a registered charge takes effect as a charge by way of legal mortgage, unless there is clear provision to the contrary, or it is made or takes effect as a mortgage by demise or sub-demise. Mortgages by demise or sub-demise are now in practice obsolete, because of the advantages of a charge (that enables freeholds and leaseholds to be made the subject of a single charge rather than separate demises or sub-demises; the grant of a charge of a lease is not thought to amount to a breach of the common-form covenant against subletting without the landlord’s consent; and the form of legal charge is short and simple). Subsection (1)(a) therefore abolishes them, with prospective effect.