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Extension of compulsory registration of ownership of land

By Darius

Minister announces further extension of compulsory registration of ownership of land
(Link to Press Release)

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., today announced that he has signed an Order extending compulsory registration of ownership of land to six further counties. The Order will extend compulsory registration, under the Registration of Title Act, 1964, to the counties of Clare, Kilkenny, Louth, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow and brings the total number of 'compulsory registration' counties to 12.

The Minister said: "I am determined to make rapid progress on extending registration of land ownership and it is for this reason that I requested the Property Registration Authority to identify additional counties where compulsory title registration could be introduced."

Compulsory registration of ownership of land means that the ownership of the title to the land must be registered in the Land Registry.

Compulsory registration applies in a number of situations:

· Where freehold land has been sold and conveyed to or vested in any person under the land purchase acts or the labourers acts;
· Where freehold land is acquired by a statutory authority, e.g. a Minister, local or public authority, or any company or body established by legislation;
· To sales of freehold land in areas which are the subject of compulsory registration orders made by the Minister;
· To leases (with over 21 years unexpired at the date of registration) by a statutory authority and assignments on sale of such leases in areas which are the subject of compulsory registration orders made by the Minister.

The Minister concluded: "According to the World Bank, efficient property registration systems which facilitate land transactions and protect ownership rights contribute to economic progress and competitiveness. The Bank has identified substantial scope for reducing registration delays and related costs in Ireland and that is why the Property Registration Authority has been given the specific task of promoting and extending land registration. Title registration is also an essential prerequisite for electronic conveyancing of land (eConveyancing) which is capable of yielding additional savings and efficiencies for the benefit of consumers."

In order to give adequate notice to legal practitioners and conveyancers, the new Order takes effect on 1 October 2008 and is available on www.prai.ie.

21 April 2008

Note to Editors

1. Under previous Orders, compulsory registration was extended to the following counties :

- Carlow, Laois and Meath in 1970 and

- Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath in 2005.

2. In extending compulsory registration in this Order, consideration was given to the facts that over 96% of all land in Counties Clare, Kilkenny, Louth, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow is already registered in the Land Registry and that digital mapping is 'live' in each of these counties.

Full post as published by Irish Law Update on April 23, 2008 (boomark / email).