Outstanding Charges on Property

Hi,&#160;<br> <br> We are in the process of buying a property. However, we were made aware 4 days before we were due to complete that there were charges against the property and we wouldn't be able to complete until the charges had been removed.&#160;<br> <br> This happened on the 26th March, and nearly a month later, we are no further along.&#160;<br> <br> I was hoping to get some clarification on whether any of the charges had yet been<span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif;">&#160;removed and how long this process will take? We are expecting our first baby and the uncertainty is causing a vast amount of stress.&#160;<br> <br> The property is 198 Kilbourne Road, Belper, DE561SB<br> <br> Thank you<br> Paige</span></span><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> &#160;

Hi Paige - I am sorry to read of the issues you are facing re the property and the stress you are feeling<br> 198 is unregistered so there's no application involving HMLR specifically. If there are charges against an unregistered property then these would be dealt with by the Land Charges Department.&#160;<br> They are not part of this forum and whilst you can email them I would recommend pursuing the issue with the seller/their conveyancer and your own conveyancer to check and confirm what's happening both re the charges and the fact that the property is unregistered - your conveyancer are best placed to assist I suspect<br> <a href="mailto:LandCharges.CustomerTeam@landregistry.gov.uk">LandCharges.CustomerTeam@landregistry.gov.uk</a>

Hi Adam,&#160;<br> <br> I wasn't aware that the property was unregistered. What does this mean for us?&#160;

Hi Paige - that's a key Q and one I would perhaps have expected your conveyancer to have already explained and covered off for you. Especially as you are aware of the outstanding charges and how those are dealt with.<br> The fact that it's unregistered need not have an impact - you will appreciate that all land and property was once unregistered but still sold/bought. But it does change the conveyancing process as there's no registered title to be checked and the conveyancer has to approach matters very differently as they are reliant on the old deeds/documents that the seller will have and share to prove their ownership<br> What happens re completion invariably depends on if you are buying with a mortgage. If you are the lender may insist that the seller registers the property first, which also includes clearing the charges you refer to. As you have asked re the charges only it's possible that it being unregistered is not a significant factor but do ask your conveyancer to clarify/confirm as appropriate