How do I merge or amalgamate our house title with a field title which we own to form 1 title

Hi

We have a property and we also have a field so two separate titles with Land Registry, we want to combine as the field is an extension if you like to the large garden we have.

Can someone please outline how we do this.

Is it using an AP1 form, if so any steps to follow to complete or is there a different way to achieve the combining of the two titles?

Thank you

Hi Michelle - it's an amalgamation you are referring to. A merger is where a leasehold title is 'merged' (determined) into it's superior title so the lease is ended so to speak.
 

An amalgamation is the joining of two or more parcels of registered or unregistered estates affecting different extents of land under a single registered title.

We do not amalgamate titles unless some positive advantage accrues to a number of prospective purchasers (such as an amalgamation of areas of land comprising a housing development), or the request does not add unnecessarily to our workload.

Amalgamation can only happen where: 

• the estates are of the same kind [for example, freehold title] 
• the estates are owned by the same proprietor[s] and in the same capacity [for example, if an owner holds one title as joint proprietor and another as sole proprietor, amalgamation of the two cannot take place]
• the impact upon any encumbrances on individual titles, such as mortgages, have been accounted for  

If you wish to apply for amalgamation you will need to complete and submit:

• Form AP1
• a covering letter outlining the reasons for the request along with any supporting evidence [If you are being refused insurance, for example, then you should include a copy of that refusal with the application]
• a sufficient description or plan of the land being amalgamated 
• a fee of £40.00 [cheques/postal orders to be made payable to HM Land Registry]

Thanks for replying.

We want to amalgamate as we bought the house first then 3 years later the field behind our property came up for sale so bought that.

Both freehold.

Can we as individuals complete the AP1 and include title plans with outline map in red to show where they are (pay to download at £3 each) and submit with the fee

or

Do we have to instruct a solicitor or conveyancer?

Thanks

Michelle - you can apply and you don't need a solicitor or conveyancer.
I must reiterate though that if you don't have a good reason for requesting same we will reject and refund the fee. 
The reason you provided in your first post would not be seen as a good enough reason 

Hi Adam - I have a related question as I am needing to amalgamate our property title with an adjacent piece of land we purchased recently. We have been advised to amalgamate before applying for an extension that will be across the boundary of the two titles. Both titles are in the same name and are freehold. Do we need to provide proof of identity since the names are the same for both titles and if so as we don't have a convancer do we use form ID3?

Hi James - if the application is simply to amalgamate the two titles then identity verification is not needed

Thanks so much Adam

Hi Adam,

I have a similar situation. I own a property in Southwark, and my partner has recently purchased the adjoining property (we are not married). We would like to create an opening between the two properties through the party wall so that we can use them as one larger house. We are also planning to build a joint rear extension across both properties.

Our planning consultant advised that we need to apply for an amalgamation with the council for planning purposes. However, we were also advised that it is not possible to amalgamate the titles with the Land Registry. This has been a bit confusing.

Essentially, we want to use the two houses as one, but keep them legally separate so that they can be sold individually in the future. From a Land Registry perspective, is this possible?

Thank you,
Hanrui

Hi Hanrui - it can be confusing and it's possible that you have mixed the planning/council requirements with our own.
If you own one property and your partner the other then they can't be amalgamated by us. They both have to be in the same ownership and more - see previous guidance provided to Michelle
The council planning process is a separate issue and I suspect your planning consultant is referring to the planning needs and also how to apply to the council's street name & numbering department for a single postal address to replace the two that currently exist. The council won't be concerned by or interested in whether we have amalgamated the two registered titles or not

Hi Adam,

Thank you for your reply. If we apply for amalgamation with the council and end up with one house number, would it still be possible to keep two separate Land Registry titles?

Thank you,
Hanrui

Hi Hanrui - Yes. The council will deal with any address issues so if just one needed then they approve and manage that. 
We deal with the registered titles separately so if left as two that's fine from our end 

Hi Adam,

Thank you for your reply. How is it possible for a property to be considered one dwelling while having two different owners and two separate legal titles?

Thank you,
Hanrui

Hanrui - because the council address information is quite separate from the land and legal ownership
We register land and whilst what's then built on it can affect the property description, postal address etc it is still land from a registration perspective 

Dear Adam,

Thank you for your explanation. I still find it a bit difficult to understand. For example, if we decide to sell one of the properties in the future, and the two houses have already been considered as one by the council, how would it be possible to sell “half” of the amalgamated house?

Kind regards,
Hanrui

 

Hanrui - you sell it as a Transfer of Part (TP1) - Registering land or property with HM Land Registry: Change the registered owner name - GOV.UK 
Think land and not address for example to understand how land ownership/registration works. An address is a descriptor. 

Thank you very much Adam!