Previous LR Information

1. In your system, before granting a deed for sale or mortgage, is it compulsory, necessary or convenient to get information from the Land Registry?

It is not compulsory to get information from the Land Registry for mortgages or sales of properties, but it is considered convenient and advisable for interest of parties. In the case that a real estate broker is taking care of the sale it is even necessary (ruled by law) to get the information.

2. What type of information is requested?

As in many other countries LR information consist of the relevant circumstances about the status of the property as for ownership and encumbrances, in order to ascertain if this status coincides with the deeds or situation as the seller or mortgagor has told.

As in Spain for instance, basically LR information is comprised of description of property to sell, who is its owner, also his/her matrimonial regime if applicable (significant fact to bear in mind as for the authority of disposal on the property) and its mortgages, fiscal burdens or other encumbrances or judiciary charges if they existed, as well as pending documents if applicable.

3. Who usually (or legally) deals with requesting this LR information? Public notaries? Solicitors? Interested parties themselves? Banks?

In Finland as in other Nordic countries a system where Public Notaries are dealing with deeds about sales or mortgages is not in use. In Finland most cases of sales are committed by real estate agents and applications for mortgages are made by banks which usually also deal with collecting LR information in relation with the Land Registries by means a specific procedure. Also parties may get personally LR information. According to Act about Land Information System the access to the information is free for everyone (against a fee).