Completion: Contract and Transfer

[gurgleenglish]

Hello all - happy bank holiday weekend!

Completion day is around the corner 🎉 but I have a question about titles/deeds. I’m probably being thick but our solicitor said this about completion docs:

“Copy of the Contract & Transfer will be sent to you (via email) upon receipt from the seller’s solicitor. We will keep the originals until your registration at the Land Registry has completed”

I guess the contract is the TR1 we signed (?), but what is the “Transfer” - is this the deed to the property? I’m trying to figure out what proves we own the property after completion? Is the title transfer enough? What about the deed, and how do I get hold of it?

I googled it but I trust you more than Google about this since a lot of you have been through this already, whereas this is my first time!

The Contract (sometimes referred to as an Agreement) is a document produced by the selling solicitor which is sent to your solicitor who sends it to you for signature and return.

The TR1 is the Transfer.

After completion the TR1 is sent to HM Land Registry to register you as the new owner.

Please be aware that transfer of title deeds by the land registry is taking many months. We completed last October and have received confirmation of the title this month.

Thank you @Frecklespy what documents should I retain to prove ownership of the property?

I read that banks used to keep the deed to the property until the mortgage is paid, however this is no longer the case and I should keep a copy of the deed?

The deeds are all digital now, there's no paper deed.

That’s great to know. I’ll look into it - assume I can get a copy once it’s all registered with Land Registry.

Has anyone opted to get notifications if someone tries to fraudulently transfer the title?

Yes, I have. LR send an email every now and again (six-monthly? not sure) to say nothing's happening.