Cost of splitting title deeds

There can be several reasons why land or property owners decide to transfer or sell part of these particular assets. Selling a section of land from a large garden to a neighbour is a common occurrence. So too is splitting a large plot that contains multiple buildings.

Farmers occasionally sell or purchase a small part of a field to streamline the boundaries of their land. The process of splitting title deeds held by the Land Registry even allows third parties to acquire certain plots of land for development. In this guide, we look at the average cost of splitting title deeds.

Cost of splitting title deeds

The cost to split title deeds includes conveyancing work completed by a solicitor. You can expect to pay between £100 – £500 for this.

The price to split title deeds also includes further fees. You’ll usually have to pay £8 for an online identity check. There is also a fee of £3 to acquire an official copy of the title deeds from the Land Registry.

The price to split title deeds includes a fee of £20 – £125 to register the change of ownership with the Land Registry.

What are title deeds?

The use of title deeds has existed for centuries. They are legal paper documents that certify current ownership and catalogue successive past owners of a building or plot of land. They might include wills, leases, mortgages, conveyances and contracts arranging a sale. The process of splitting title deeds is sometimes referred to as a transfer of part.

• Leasehold: If you own property leasehold, it means someone else owns the land. Therefore, you can’t decide what to do with the land the building stands on.
• Freehold: Owning property freehold means the building and the land are in your possession. It leaves you free to make plans regarding the property or land such as splitting title deeds.
• Application to split title deeds: When you own the freehold of a parcel of land that you want to split, you have to apply to the Land Registry. You need to explain in detail your reasons for wanting to split the title deeds. Your intentions have to be worthwhile as each case is reviewed independently and permission is never granted automatically. You also have to account for the cost to split title deeds.
• Splitting the title deeds: If your application is granted, the title deeds are subject to precise legal procedures. The deeds are regarded as being permanently fixed in place on the land they refer to. Although the process is referred to as splitting, in effect, the part to be sold is removed from the original plot.
• New title deeds: When the process has been completed, the original deeds still exist complete with their allocated serial number. The section of land that has been sold gains its own title deeds and new number.

FAQs

Can I spilt the title deeds of my building by selling the top floor?

No. The title deeds cannot be split horizontally.

Can the title deeds of a large house be split by demolishing it and building two new houses?

Yes, as it would be splitting the title deeds vertically.

What happens if there is an outstanding mortgage on the property?

The title deeds can still be split even if there’s a mortgage. However, you’ll have to pay additional charges to the mortgage lender once the transfer has been completed.