asked the Minister for Justice the special provisions, if any, in existence to ensure that individuals who have bought out their ground rent and who are pursuing the registration of such property can do so without undue expense and without essential recourse to solicitors or the legal profession, and, if not, the proposals, if any, to introduce such provisions.
Written Answers. - Ground Rent Purchase.
48.
It appears to be suggested in the question that special provision in regard to registration of property ought to be made for the benefit of one category of persons, namely, those who have bought out their ground rents. If that is intended, I do not think I could agree with it as I believe that, in principle, similar facilities should be available to all. That point apart, the answer to the question is that persons who have bought out their ground rents under the 1978 No. 2 Ground Rents Act can register the vesting certificate, either in the Registry of Deeds or in the Land Registry, without undue expense. The registration fee in the Registry of Deeds is £4. The fees in the Land Registry may vary somewhat depending on the value of the property and depending also on whether the leasehold interest was previously registered—the average registration fee to date has been £3.50. The administrative arrangements for registration have been kept as simple as possible. The question of retaining a solicitor in such a transaction is, of course, one for the applicant himself but it is not mandatory nor in normal circumstances would it be essential in practical terms.
As far as registration in the Registry of Deeds is concerned, a duplicate of the vesting certificate is accepted in lieu of a memorial and in order to facilitate the ground rent purchaser the duplicate is supplied to him with the original vesting certificate by the Ground Rents Section of the Land Registry.
The general requirements for registration in the Land Registry are set out in the Land Registration Rules, 1972.