A Question about House Deeds

[Bubbaloo]

Does anyone know if you lose/mislay the deeds to a property,whether you can get a duplicate from somewhere please?

TIA.

any help?

Depends on whether the property is registered or not. If it is, then you can get copies of the deeds from the land registry. If it isn't, then you may be in some difficulty as the deeds are usually the only record of ownership.

Thank you both.

That link was very usefull.I've just completed a search to find out who owns a property and once I get the results back I'll take it from there.

Freckle-Just a thought but if the property isn't registered,then how would you prove you own it.Any ideas?.

Details of the purchase/transaction maybe??

It's a long story but apparently the bungalow was left to dh over 30 years ago,by a family member.He was told that when he was 21(he's now 37)it would all be transferred into his name(and was in his mother's name prior to this).My MIL passed away 10 years ago and my FIL lives in the property.Obviously,he has lived there for years and we wouldn't want to upset him,but he's 80 years old and Dh doesn't want to approach him to ask him where the deeds are(so we can put them in a safe place)as he'll probably assume we're trying to pack him off to "shady acres",which we're not,but at the same time we're a bit concerned if there just lying about indoors,which isn't very safe.
Like I said,that link Trinity gave me was fab and I've just done a search to see whether they do indeed have dh's name down as the registered owner.
Thanks again.

If the property isn't registered and the deeds go missing, it is difficult to prove ownership. Solicitors who have dealt with the sale of the house in the past may have some records, but if the last time it changed hands was 30 years ago these probably don't exist anymore.

If it was left to your dh, would you have a copy of the will? Otherwise, you'd need to speak to a solicitor about proving ownership.

Thanks Freckle.No,dh hasn't got a copy of the will and although it sounds strange,he doesn't even know the name of the person who left it to him.
His grandmother dies giving birth to his mother around 65 years ago and she was brought up by this woman,who then went on to leave the property to him.
I have just heard back from the land registry to say that there's no title number for the property that has been recorded and they are making further investigations and will get back to me later on,when they know more.
All seems very confusing,but dh doesn't want to mention anything to his dad,incase it upsets him.

If the property is not registered land the deeds are most probably:

1. At your FIL's house or
2. At the solicitor that did the original conveyancing (and probably the will) for the lady who willed it to your DH or
3. Still in a building society, because the donor never paid off all the mortgage.

I think it is possible to hire someone to find old deeds, if necessary. However, you should ask your FIL - who must at least know the name of the lady who brought up his wife.

Thanks Lilymaid.
Dh is actually going to his dad's for dinner tomorrow so I've told him to ask him where they are and obviously stress to him the importance of us having them and that we're not trying to kick him out of his home.Hopefully,with a bit of luck they will be at his house and he'll let Dh have them.

Could he not say that he was talking to someone the other day who lost their deeds in a house-fire and it made him think about the deeds to the bungalow? He could try to persuade his dad to hand them over for safe-keeping (such as putting them in a safety deposit box) or get him to do it himself.

Yes,that's a very good point although I'm not sure he'll fall for it.
We actually have a small fire proof safe indoors where we keep passports,birth certs and even my parents deeds,so we could keep them in there,if there's room.
Fingers crossed he has them or at least knows where there are-will save lots of running around trying to find them.