Deeds required?

[Another Dave]

I've sold my house (touch wood) and I'm filling in the forms for my
conveyancer. He says he needs the deeds if the house is not mortgaged
(it isn't).

a) I thought that, for registered properties (the house was built in
1973), deeds were no longer required. Is this not so?
b) When I paid off the mortgage (15 years ago) I lodged the deeds with
Abbey National's Deedsafe thingy. Abbey National closed this down in
2003. Does anybody know how to get the deeds? Phone numbers, addresses
would be handy as their web-site has no mention of Deedsafe or anything
like it.

TIA
Another Dave

[Nick]

Post by Another Dave
I've sold my house (touch wood) and I'm filling in the forms for my
conveyancer. He says he needs the deeds if the house is not mortgaged
(it isn't).
a) I thought that, for registered properties (the house was built in
1973), deeds were no longer required. Is this not so?
b) When I paid off the mortgage (15 years ago) I lodged the deeds with
Abbey National's Deedsafe thingy. Abbey National closed this down in
2003. Does anybody know how to get the deeds? Phone numbers, addresses
would be handy as their web-site has no mention of Deedsafe or anything
like it.

I don't know but

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/housing/buying_a_home.htm

says:

"Completion

Completion of the purchase usually takes place about four weeks after
exchange of contracts, although it can be earlier. On the day agreed
for completion:-

the mortgage lender releases the money
the deeds to the property are handed over to your solicitor or
licensed conveyancer
the seller must hand over the keys and leave the property by an agreed
time."

See http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=321076&in_page_id=8

There is a lot of stuff here and as there are differing opinions
quoted I won't select.

Nick

[Peter Crosland]

Post by Another Dave
I've sold my house (touch wood) and I'm filling in the forms for my
conveyancer. He says he needs the deeds if the house is not mortgaged
(it isn't).
a) I thought that, for registered properties (the house was built in
1973), deeds were no longer required. Is this not so?
b) When I paid off the mortgage (15 years ago) I lodged the deeds with
Abbey National's Deedsafe thingy. Abbey National closed this down in
2003. Does anybody know how to get the deeds? Phone numbers, addresses
would be handy as their web-site has no mention of Deedsafe or
anything like it.

A quick check at Land registry online will tell you if the property is
registered and if so then a certified copy is all you need. If not then you
need to ask Abbey for a start.

Peter Crosland

[The Todal]

Post by Another Dave
I've sold my house (touch wood) and I'm filling in the forms for my
conveyancer. He says he needs the deeds if the house is not mortgaged (it
isn't).
a) I thought that, for registered properties (the house was built in
1973), deeds were no longer required. Is this not so?

In general yes. Especially since about 5 years ago when the Land Registry
stopped issuing "land certificates" or "charge certificates" and all you
ever get is an office copy of the computer entry.

But what your solicitor/conveyancer actually *means* is that he would like
the deed packet if there is one, because of all the other useful documents
that will be in it. If there isn't one, then tell him there isn't one.
Then, when the buyer submits the standard question along the lines of "does
the documentary information in your possession confirm the property
information given by the seller" he can truthfully answer "no, there is
none".

Post by Another Dave
b) When I paid off the mortgage (15 years ago) I lodged the deeds with
Abbey National's Deedsafe thingy. Abbey National closed this down in 2003.
Does anybody know how to get the deeds? Phone numbers, addresses would be
handy as their web-site has no mention of Deedsafe or anything like it.

I had never heard of it - have you asked Abbey for advice? I'd expect them
to keep the deeds at their Deed Production Centre or whatever it might now
be called.

It would be rather unusual for them to destroy a deed packet. But if they
do, maybe you can claim a bit of compensation.

The papers that might be included would be old searches (of little value),
planning permission documents, building regs approval documents, guarantees
and receipts for glazing, damp-proofing and timber treatment and maybe,
rarely, old conveyances that could resolve some long dispute about rights of
way or boundary lines.

[steve robinson]

Post by Another Dave
I've sold my house (touch wood) and I'm filling in the forms for my
conveyancer. He says he needs the deeds if the house is not mortgaged
(it isn't).
a) I thought that, for registered properties (the house was built in
1973), deeds were no longer required. Is this not so? b) When I paid
off the mortgage (15 years ago) I lodged the deeds with Abbey
National's Deedsafe thingy. Abbey National closed this down in 2003.
Does anybody know how to get the deeds? Phone numbers, addresses
would be handy as their web-site has no mention of Deedsafe or
anything like it.
TIA
Another Dave

Phone abbeys head office and request the return of your deeds , deeds
are no longer needed for sale if the property is registered however
deeds do sometimes carry covernants which can be enforced

--

[Another Dave]

I'm the OP. Just to thank you all for your advice.

I e-mailed Abbey National and received a reply suggesting I ring a
number. Duly rang and was promptly answered by a cheery scouser who was
very efficient (despite calling me "mate"). It seems the deeds can be
released to any solicitor on their "panel" (which mine is) simply on
receipt of a telephone request from them.

A result! I'll keep some of the advice in reserve in case something goes
wrong

Another Dave

[Peter Crosland]

Post by Another Dave
I'm the OP. Just to thank you all for your advice.
I e-mailed Abbey National and received a reply suggesting I ring a
number. Duly rang and was promptly answered by a cheery scouser who
was very efficient (despite calling me "mate"). It seems the deeds
can be released to any solicitor on their "panel" (which mine is)
simply on receipt of a telephone request from them.
A result! I'll keep some of the advice in reserve in case something
goes wrong

Good! Nice to hear a positive result. By the way Abbey have no right to
refuse you because the deeds are your property.

Peter Crosland

[r***@invalid.invalid]

On Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:25:18 +0100, "Peter Crosland"
<***@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

It seems the deeds

Post by Peter Crosland

Post by Another Dave
can be released to any solicitor on their "panel" (which mine is)
simply on receipt of a telephone request from them.

...

Post by Peter Crosland
Good! Nice to hear a positive result. By the way Abbey have no right to
refuse you because the deeds are your property.

One assumes that Abbey were implying that the procedure for release to
anyone other than a panel solicitor is more involved than just a
phone call, not that they wouldnt release them to anyone else !

Its a pity we are so surprised these days when a quick, easy, friendly
result is obtained with just a phone call.
Robert

[Peter Crosland]

Post by r***@invalid.invalid
On Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:25:18 +0100, "Peter Crosland"
It seems the deeds

Post by Peter Crosland

Post by Another Dave
can be released to any solicitor on their "panel" (which mine is)
simply on receipt of a telephone request from them.

...

Post by Peter Crosland
Good! Nice to hear a positive result. By the way Abbey have no right
to refuse you because the deeds are your property.

One assumes that Abbey were implying that the procedure for release to
anyone other than a panel solicitor is more involved than just a
phone call, not that they wouldnt release them to anyone else !

Noted

Post by r***@invalid.invalid
Its a pity we are so surprised these days when a quick, easy, friendly
result is obtained with just a phone call.

It is indeed.

Peter Crosland