Guidance

Practice guide 58: Format of registers for titles in Wales

Updated 1 February 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Please note that HM Land Registry’s practice guides are aimed primarily at solicitors and other conveyancers. They often deal with complex matters and use legal terms.

1. Overview

HM Land Registry has a Welsh Language Scheme that was prepared under section 21(3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993 and received the full endorsement of the Welsh Language Board in March 1998. The scheme provides that in the conduct of our public business in Wales, we will treat the English and Welsh languages on a basis of equality. The format outlined in Format and when it took effect derives from this principle.

2. Format and when it took effect

The format made to comply with the Welsh Language Scheme took effect on 1 October 2001 and is as follows.

• the register template is produced in bilingual format. The headings and standard information (for example, ‘Property Register’ or ‘Title Absolute’) on all registers of titles in Wales appear in Welsh and English
• individual register entries appear in the language (English or Welsh) of the source document on which they are based. So, where Welsh is the language of the source documents, the entries are in Welsh; where English is the language of the source documents, the entries are in English. Bilingual entries cannot be entered. Where there is no document, the register entry reflects the language choice of the applicant whose application gave rise to that entry.

3. Entries that don’t arise from a deed

Where there is no document, for example, where an entry is of a general nature or relates exclusively to the status of the title plan, the language of that entry reflects the language choice of the applicant either in the current application or, if the current application is generated by HM Land Registry itself, on the basis of the language choice of the current registered proprietor.

4. Translation of register entries

Please note that HM Land Registry does not provide a service to translate register entries (into English or Welsh) as the translation would have no legal status. It is the customer/solicitor’s responsibility to arrange a translation if this is needed.

5. Address for service

The address for service in the proprietorship register, which is personal to the individual proprietor, can be in Welsh either in accordance with the language choice of the applicant or upon request. Please note, however, that this applies to properties in Wales only. See practice guide 55: address for service for more general information, particularly as to the effect of the Land Registration Rules 2003.

6. Applications based on Welsh documents lodged before 1 October 2001

From 1 October 2001, HM Land Registry, Swansea Office has printed all registers on the bilingual register template regardless of when the register itself was created. Entries arising from Welsh documents lodged prior to 1 October 2001 were translated into English for entry on the register. We do not intend to revise those entries.

7. If your property is in England, you cannot have your register in Welsh

The format set out above affects only the registers of land in Wales. Therefore, it is not possible for expatriate Welsh people living in England or for Welsh people who may own land in England to have the registers of their English land printed on a bilingual template. It is also not possible to create entries in Welsh on those registers.

8. Headings or keys on title plans

There are no proposals to translate headings or keys on title plans.

9. Who to contact if you need further information or assistance

Please refer any queries relating to this format to:

Eleri Sparnon Jones, Head of the Welsh Language Services

HM Land Registry
Tŷ Cwm Tawe
Phoenix Way
Swansea Enterprise Park
Swansea
SA7 9FQ

Email eleri.jones@landregistry.gov.uk

Telephone 0300 006 9567

10. Things to remember

We only provide factual information and impartial advice about our procedures. Read more about the advice we give.