Transfers and assignments

Section 52(1) of the Law of Property Act 1925 (LPA 1925) requires that a transfer of a legal interest in land is made by deed.

The fundamental objective of the Land Registration Act 2002 (LRA 2002) is 'total registration', where the register of title provides a complete and accurate reflection of the state of the title to the land at any given time. LRA 2002, s 4 requires the buyer of an unregistered freehold or lease with more than seven years unexpired (ie a qualifying estate) to apply for first registration.

The Land Registration Rules 2003, SI 2003/1417 (Land Registration Rules) deal with the background technical detail of registration and HM Land Registry has issued a number of Practice Guides.

Transfers

The Land Registration Rules prescribe the form of transfer that should be used to transfer a qualifying estate. These are:

  1. TR1—Transfer of whole

  2. TP1—Transfer of part of registered title(s)

  3. TR2—Transfer of whole of registered title(s) under power of sale

  4. TP2—Transfer of part of registered title(s) under power of sale

  5. TR5—Transfer of portfolio of titles (whole or part)

  6. AS1—Assent

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