The big 4-0-0 approaches

Application checking service

Following discussions with the legal profession, we are pleased to offer a first registration checking service. This new service checks an application for a deed over an unregistered plot before it is submitted for registration, reducing the risk of rejection.

The service checks that all registration criteria have been met, giving you added confidence that your application will not be rejected. In the result of a clear check, we will retain your application and enter it onto the application record. All your related applications are checked at no additional cost, e.g. a disposition and standard security.

Registers’ new Glasgow office

Last month, we signed a 15-year lease for a new office space in Glasgow. The newly built St Vincent Plaza development will replace RoS’s existing premises at Hanover House on Douglas Street, with initial moves taking place in the second half of this year.

RoS will occupy the entire third floor, an open-plan space ideal for agile projects and collaborative working between teams. Developed by Abstract, St Vincent Plaza has a BREEAM “Excellent” environmental accreditation and provides the most cost-effective newbuilt city centre office accommodation anywhere in the UK.

Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic office space that will bring us significant improvements – the space is more flexible, and will reduce our carbon footprint by more than 50%. This will support our digital transformation, helping us to deliver the products and services that Scotland needs from RoS.”

400 years of property records

On 28 June 1617, the Land Registration Act brought the General Register of Sasines into existence. This was the first register of its type and marks a significant moment in Scotland’s history, when the rights of the citizen became protected by law. We are looking at ways to mark the 400th anniversary next year, creating a legacy as we move Scotland’s remaining ownership records across to our modern Land Register.

We are working with Creative Scotland to run an open competition to create a piece of public art that captures the spirit of the General Register of Sasines. This will close on 31 March when a shortlist will be drawn up. The winning piece will be unveiled during 2017 and forms one of the main elements of our celebrations. You can find out more by filtering “commissions” on the Creative Scotland opportunities portal at opportunities.creativescotland.com and selecting “General Register of Sasines 400th anniversary”.

This is just one of the things we are doing to mark the anniversary. Among other activities, we’re working with Scotland’s university law departments to identify a masters research proposal that we can sponsor for the 2016-17 academic year, and on 24 October 2017 we will welcome leaders from land registries across the globe to our Registrars of Title conference.

Sasine Register closes to standard securities

The General Register of Sasines is already closed to dispositions, leases and assignations of lease. The 2012 Act gave Scottish ministers the power to make an order closing the Sasine Register to standard securities. This will take effect from 1 April this year. The intention behind this is to create an additional trigger for adding titles onto the Land Register.

This closure means that property owners with titles on sasines will have to voluntarily register their title on the Land Register in advance of, or at the same time as, the registration of the standard security. To support this, the registration fee for the voluntary registration has been waived, with the only fee payable to RoS being the £60 cost to register the standard security.

There has been a significant programme of engagement ahead of the closure, including consultation with the largest conveyancing firms dealing with the remortgage market, as well as lenders. RoS has also published details of the guidance and products in place to support the changes, available at www.ros.gov.uk/lrc