How to get the Information

1. WHO CAN APPLY FOR INFORMATION: IS THE LR ABSOLUTELY PUBLIC OR NOT?

Registers of Scotland (RoS) maintain two registers of land and property in Scotland – the General Register of Sasines (the Sasine Register) and the Land Register. The Sasine Register is a register of deeds and the Land Register is a register of rights in land. Both registers are public – although, in general, only one register needs to be searched to find information about a property. Anyone can apply for information.

For data protection purposes RoS require anyone seeking information from the registers to provide both their name and address.

2. WHERE CAN BE FOUND THIS INFORMATION:

Customers can contact us by:

– Email: customer.services@ros.gov.uk
– Online: www.ros.gov.uk
– Telephone: (+44) 0800 169 9391
– Textphone: (+44) (0) 131 528 3836

Customers can also visit or write to one of our customer service centres at either:

Registers of Scotland                                          Registers of Scotland
Customer Service Centre                                   Customer Service Centre
Meadowbank House                       Or               Hanover House
153 London Road                                                24 Douglas Street
Edinburgh, EH8 7AU                                         Glasgow, G2 7NQ

3. HOW TO OBTAIN IT:

Customers are able to search both the Land and Sasine Registers using the RoS online information service, Registers Direct. This service is available to everyone but is primarily aimed at ‘frequent use’ customers as online registration is required. Customers requiring one-off access to the registers are encouraged to contact RoS customer service centres directly using the contact details provided above.

Ownership searches can be requested online by completing the webform here. Requests for information beyond the ownership of property can be made to RoS customer service centres, who aim to answer all enquiries within 2 working days (up to 5 working days for non-standard searches). Responses are generally provided by email, or by post as a last resort.

All searches are chargeable and the fee charged varies depending on the nature of the enquiry. Full details are available online here.

All questions and requests for information must be submitted in English and all responses will also be in English. RoS do not offer any translation services.

RoS also offer a House Price Search service (here). Available online for free, customers can search the latest selling price of properties on any street in Scotland within a 6 month period.

4. WHEN IS THE EXCERPT ISSUED?

RoS will issue extracts, certified copies or plain copies of a broad range of documents on request. Extracts may consist of
•    all, or part, of a title sheet (a document setting out the title to a plot of land),
•    any part of the cadastral map (the map showing geo-spatial information about rights to land), or
•    any document, or part of any document, in the archive record (a record of all documents submitted for registration that are relevant to the accuracy of the Land Register).

Certified copies can be requested for applications, advance notices or any other document on the application record. Plain copies consist of the same information as both extracts and certified copies but lack the evidential status.

5. WHAT IS THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE EXCERPT FROM THE LAND REGISTER?

No validity period applies, it reflects the legal status at the moment of issue.

6. WHERE CAN THE EXCERPTS FROM THE LAND REGISTER BE USED?

Information from the registers can be used according to the customer’s wishes. Extracts (excerpts) are accepted for all purposes as sufficient evidence of the original, as sufficient evidence of the contents of the document as submitted to the keeper, and of any matter relating to the original which appears on the extract or copy. An extract carries the evidential status required for court purposes.

7. HOW TO IDENTIFY A PROPERTY?

Properties that have been registered in the Land Register can be identified by their unique Title Number.
Properties may also by identified by address (building name, street number, street, town or city, postal code) or by map co-ordinates.

8. LR AND CADASTRAL RELATIONSHIP:

There is no separate cadastre in Scotland. RoS maintains both of the registers relating to land ownership and retains the records relating to the Land Register. The cadastral map is part of the Land Register and shows the extent of ownership of properties registered in that register.  National Records of Scotland is the government body that preserves records relating to the Sasine Register. Information regarding the taxation of property is held and maintained, in general, by the relevant authority.

9. Are the digital forms of delivering land register information cheaper/expensive than non-digital delivery forms? Could you please provide a price indication?

ScotLIS, the online land and property information service for Scotland provided by RoS provides access to the price paid, date of last purchase, title number and a visual representation of the property extent without charge. The title sheet and plan can be purchased (and will be sent via email to the recipient) for £3.00 plus VAT.

The full comparison of searching via ScotLIS versus instructing RoS to conduct a search can be found at the link below

https://www.ros.gov.uk/services/fees/information-services-fees

10. Which forms of delivery are made use of most – digital or non-digital? If possible, could you please provide an indication in percentages?

Once registration of a deed has been completed, the applicant’s Agent (and any other parties identified to be notified) is emailed a link to view and download a digital version of the title sheet and plan.

Subsequent requests for information from the Land Register can be provided in either digital or non-digital formats.