ABOUT LAND REGISTERS NORTHERN IRELAND
Land Registers Northern Ireland [LRNI] is an Executive Agency functioning within the Department of Finance and Personnel. Its aim is to support the conveyancing and property markets in Northern Ireland by:
- Guaranteeing the validity of title to registered land;
- Protecting the priority of conveyancing transactions for unregistered properties
- Responding quickly to requests for land information; and
- Providing a forum for the resolution of disputes regarding registered land.
The Agency is currently organised into three indentifiable registries;
Registry of Deeds
There has been a system of registration of documents relating to unregistered land (land which is not registered in Northern Ireland) since 1708. Under this system a written summary of the relevant document is lodged in the Registry of Deeds with the original document. This summary, known as a ?Memorial?, is retained in the Registry and the original document is returned to the person who lodged it. Any person may search the Registry's Index of Names to obtain details of any particular transaction. The Registry does not guarantee that any document registered is valid or has any legal effect; it merely records the document's existence and its priority date.
Land Registry
The Land Registry was established in 1892 and historically most registered land (land registered in the Land Registry) is rural land. Unlike the Registry of Deeds, Land Registry does not merely provide a mechanical registration system; it actually guarantees the validity of the legal title. It also records interests relating to individual holdings of land, for example, rights of way, mortgages, etc. This official record known as the ?Register? is open to inspection by the public. The Registrar of Titles has a judicial role and the Registry can therefore provide an inexpensive procedure for resolving disputes relating to registered land.
Statutory Charges Registry
This Registry was set up in 1951 to provide purchasers of land with an easy method of checking whether a proprety is affected by certain statutory restrictions which could not easily be discovered otherwise. These restrictions which for the most part are created by or in favour of Government Departments or Local Authorities include, for example, matters relating to Planning Permission and Tree Preservation Orders.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about Land Registers Northern Ireland you should telephone or write to the Customer Service Manager, Brigid McAlinden (Telephone: 02890 251760).
The Agency aims to respond to all complaints within 10 working days, however, if the matter is complex and cannot easily be resolved, it will keep you informed of progress.
If you are not happy with the response from the Customer Service Manager, you should write to the Chief Executive, Patricia Montgomery, who will reply to you in writing within a further 10 working days.
If you remain dissatisfied with the Agencies response, you can refer your complaint to the ICR who can look into matters on your behalf.
Addresses
Land Registers Northern Ireland
Lincoln Building
27-45 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BELFAST BT2 7SL
Land Registers website address is: http://www.lrni.gov.uk/