The Land Registry, which is responsible for maintaining records of land and property ownership, has moved to a digital system known as the Land Registry Title Register. This means that most properties are now registered electronically rather than through physical deeds.
When selling a property, you will typically need to provide the buyer’s solicitor with certain documents, including the official copies of the register from the Land Registry. These documents serve as proof of ownership and provide details about any restrictions or rights associated with the property.
If you have the original paper deeds, they can still be useful as historical records, but they are not required for the sale. If the property is not yet registered with the Land Registry, you might need to provide the original deeds as evidence of ownership during the registration process. However, most properties in England and Wales are now registered, so this situation is becoming increasingly rare.