Deeds: where to store?

[LDN]

In the past, I'm sure the solicitors has held the deeds to a property; but a recent purchase - the solicitor has asked where to send the deeds. I've not held deeds before as I thought nowadays, they just stay with the solicitors and everything is recorded electronically anyway, almost rendering hard copies pointless?

[Zoon]

Pointless, all stored at the land registry.

[yellowtang]

Zoon said:

Pointless, all stored at the land registry.

That's not quite the case.

Yes, the land registry records the title plan but with older properties it will not record any of the other papers such as old conveyances, wills, statutory declarations etc - all of which can be very useful if you should have a boundary dispute for example! If there are deeds available then your solicitor will need to see them as part of the conveyancing.

Although my solicitor stores the deeds FOC, I currently have the deeds for my own house as I'm researching its history - they are absolutely fascinating! Masses of really old docs to wade through, including some from Lord Bath (my house used to belong to the Longleat estate) In fact, a project I did some years ago had the original indenture of lease within the deeds which meant I could date the house to precisely 6th March 1792!

[Rosscow]

I've got a massive bundle of paperwork dating back to the late 1800's for our house - I must admit I'm not sure where to keep them, either.

They've been in our loft for the last 4 years!

It's very interesting reading - if you can decipher the rather flamboyant hand writing. It must have taken people hours writing it all up!

I've got records of the land ownership way before anything was built on it.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Photograph and/or scan it, upload to Cloud (Google Drive etc.), then keep the docs wherever you like. My Dad had a fireproof box for such things but I've never bothered, maybe I should?

[dxg]

I have mine in a fireproof box in the bottom of a filing cabinet. Maybe someone will find them as they dig through the ashes...

[tivver500]

I had the same problem and bought a small Chubb (fireproof) safe which is bolted to the floor of my workshop - so if the house burns down it's 'safe'
Can also store other valuable papers and a spare hard drive as backup for various laptops!
Even gave my son a key in case anything happens to me......

[LDN]

Wow. It's like a military operation! All noted, thanks.

[Simpo Two]

Rosscow said:

It's very interesting reading - if you can decipher the rather flamboyant hand writing. It must have taken people hours writing it all up!

Before the internet, smartphones and social media were invented, people had much more time!

[blearyeyedboy]

Solicitors will lodge them for a fee. If yours won't, others will.

Else keep it yourself, in which case a fireproof safe is a wise investment.

[guindilias]

Mine are in my solicitor's safe - a huge walk-in thing which takes about 5 minutes for the motor to open the door.
And also a photocopy for me, which are stored about a foot away from the fireplace.

[Doug Phillips]

I have ours in a fire safe, which seamed to be the best idea.

[Robertj21a]

I don't know of anybody that has moved in recent years who has kept any of their Title Deeds. Once the land is registered there's little real point (in law - fascination is something else).