Notices and Objections

In certain Land Registry proceedings the Registrar may order the publication of notices relating to pending or completed applications. Examples of such cases may be where an application is made for registration of land acquired by adverse possession, an application where rights are claimed through long usage or in cases where registration is applied for but title deeds in respect of the land cannot be produced. Please note the examples mentioned are not intended in any way to be an exhaustive list, rather they are simply a few examples provided to aid understanding. 

The majority of applications received by the Land Registry do not require any notice to be given or published. However, in certain cases such as in an application for registration of land acquired through adverse possession the Registrar will require the applicant to publish notice in a local newspaper before the application is determined. In other matters, the Registrar may use discretion to determine an application and only publish notice after title has been granted. 

The reason notices are published is to give people with an interest in the land the opportunity to ensure any rights or claims they have over the land are taken into account. An interest in the land must be a legal interest (for example, a right to pass and repass over land for access to other land) and not just simply that you have always wanted to buy the land and therefore consider that you have ‘an interest’. 

If you are in any doubts about whether or not you have a legal interest in land, and indeed how you should go about protecting any you may have (whether the land is registered in the Land Registry or is still unregistered land), you should seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity. 

Notices published in relation to applications for the registration of land or by the Land Registry can be viewed below. 

Pending applications

Objections to pending applications may be made to the Land Registry in writing signed by the objector or his advocate stating concisely the grounds of objection and providing the name and service address of the objector (Rule 119 Land Registry Rules 2000). Copies of all objections will be provided to the applicant and may form part of any hearing arising in connection to the application. Objectors may be required to give evidence on oath at any subsequent hearing before the Registrar or the Land Commissioner. 

Notices of completed applications published by the Land Registry

Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar to award title in a particular matter may appeal to the Land Commissioner within 21 days of notice of the decision in accordance with section 6 of the Land Registration Act 1982 and rule 130 of the Land Registry Rules 2000 (as amended).