Frequently Asked Questions
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Land Registry
Our Public Counters are open for advanced booking. You can book an appointment on our online booking system.
For the locations of our offices, please see the Contact section of this website.
Names Index: A record of the names and addresses of every Registered Owner. The index is kept in respect of each county and shows the folio number(s) corresponding to the name.
Folio: This is a part of the register with its own distinct number on which details of the property, its ownership and any burdens affecting it appear.
Map: Original Ordnance Survey and other maps with all registered property delineated thereon are maintained in the Registry.
Instrument: When a Dealing is finally completed, the title documents retained here are called Instruments. They bear the number which they were given when they were lodged as Dealings e.g. D2012LR005555X.
Names Index, folio and map can be inspected by anyone on payment of the prescribed fee. The instrument can only be inspected by the registered owner of the property, his personal representative and any person authorised by such persons or by an order of the court or by the Land Registration Rules 2012. Please note: Instruments are stored off-site and will not be available on the day of request. Any person entitled to inspect a document filed in the Registry may obtain a copy of it.
There are three parts to a folio. Part 1 provides the details of the property. These include description, location, land registry plan reference and also any rights that would attach to the property. The area of the property is usually shown. Details of property transferred from the folio are also contained in Part 1. Part 2 contains details of the registered owners and the quality of the title and would also include any cautions or inhibitions registered against the property. Part 3 contains details of all burdens registered against the property. These would include mortgages, rights of way, fishing and sporting rights etc.
A plain copy of a folio can be viewed and printed on our online service delivery channel landdirect.ie. This costs €5 per folio. A certified copy of the folio can also be ordered on landdirect.ie and the fee for this is €40. Certified copy folios with maps (title plans) can be ordered by the same method and the fee for this is also €40.
If you do not have access to landdirect.ie, then you can inspect or order these documents at our public offices or by lodging an application by post.
Please see the Contact section of this website for the relevant postal address.
All certified copy folios issue within 24 hours of the application being submitted on landdirect.ie or details being entered on our processing system (ITRIS) for postal and public office applications. This also applies to more than 95% of copy folio and title plan applications. If there is no existing title plan or if there are pending applications that affect the map, this will lead to a delay in the map issuing. The delay can vary from a couple of days up to months, depending on the circumstances.
Yes. This can be done provided the property is registered. Fee is €5 per name and searches can be done by specific or multiple counties.
A names search can be carried out at our public offices or by postal application while landdirect.ie account holders can do this online.
Yes. This can be done on landdirect.ie which uses the GeoDirectory which links all postal addresses in Ireland to our digital map.
Yes. This can be done on landdirect.ie, where searching our map is free of charge.
If you do not have access to landdirect.ie, then there are two other methods – by identifying the property on a map in the Land Registry office (fee: €5) or by submitting a suitable, marked map with a search request to the Land Registry (fee: €40).
No. The Land Registry map is an index map and identifies property, not boundaries. Therefore, we are not in a position to advise.
One of the documents given to you should be a Deed of Discharge. This should be lodged in the Land Registry with a completed Application for Registration and a fee of €40. Please see please see the Contact section of this website for the address of the section dealing with the county in which your property is located. Please also see our Legal Office Notice No. 5/2010 – Applications in Person for details of our requirements for lodgement of personal applications.
Deed of Partial Release lodged with a Transfer of Part attracts no fees. If such Deed is lodged separately, a fee of €40 is payable.
Most transfers between spouses attract the prescribed fee for voluntary transfers of €130 plus an additional €75 if the registration requires the opening of a new folio. The exception, when no fees are payable, is when one spouse transfers property comprising of solely the family home into the joint names of both spouses. If the property comprises of more than just the family home, e.g. farmland, then normal fees apply.
The essential requirements for an application for the first registration of a lease are listed in our Practice Direction on Leases.
Yes, the fee of €130 covers the opening of the new folio and the registration of any charges/mortgages. For further details see Guidelines on the First Registration of Leases.
You need to lodge a Withdrawal of Name application in Form 47, copy of death certificate, Application for Registration (Incorporating Form 17) and €40 fees.
N.B. This affidavit should only be used where the joint ownership has not been severed by act or by operation of law.Please also see our Legal Office Notice No. 5/2010 – Applications in Person for details of our requirements for lodgement of personal applications.
All of our Practice Directions are published on this website – see the Legal Practices section.
No. The Land Registry is not involved in the planning process.
Copies of all legislative publications in respect of the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds may be purchased from Government Publications Sales Office, 52 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Telephone (01) 647 683 . They can also be viewed online, free of charge, in the Irish Statute Book (1922 to date) on the website of The Office of the Attorney General, or in the Legislation section of this website.
Application Pre-Lodged: Application entered on system by solicitor but not yet lodged for registration
Awaiting Attention: Application received but documents not yet assessed. Application may still be rejected
For Further Attention: Used when dealing has been assessed and where no other status is applicable
To be Mapped: Awaiting the preparation of a new map
Mapped: Mapping stage completed. Awaiting the drafting of a new folio
Mapping Query: Query issued in relation to the mapping of the application
Queried: Query issued by dealing section
To be Printed: For copy map and copy folio applications only. Awaiting printing and issue
Completed: Application completed
Abandoned: Documents returned, unable to proceed with registration
Withdrawn: Documents returned at request of lodging party
Refused: Application refused and documents returned
Transferred: Documents lodged transferred to another application
Rejected: Documents returned, as not in order
There are two separate systems for recording transactions in relation to property in Ireland:
• The Registry of Deeds system operated by the Registry of Deeds.
• The Registration of Title system operated by the Land Registry.Both systems are under the control and management of the Property Registration Authority. For administrative purposes both Registries form part of the Property Registration Authority. The two systems are mutually exclusive in the sense that in a particular transaction relating to land the title will be either:
• “unregistered” (i.e. the title is not yet registered in the Land Registry and so the Registry of Deeds system applies) or
• “registered” (i.e. the title has been registered in the Land Registry and so the Registry of Deeds system is irrelevant)Approximately 90% of the land in Ireland is registered which represents 85% of titles. The primary function of the Registry of Deeds system is to provide a system of recording the existence of deeds and conveyances affecting unregistered property. A failure to register may result in that document losing priority to a subsequent document which is registered. A search in the Registry of Deeds will disclose only whether documents have been executed dealing with the land in question – to discover the effect of these documents, the documents themselves (which are not retained by the Registry of Deeds) will have to be examined.
When a title is accepted for registration in the Land Registry the original title documents are retained and permanently filed. A folio is opened in respect of the property and generally it is not necessary to refer to the original title documents again. A certified copy of this folio can be obtained with or without a copy of the map outlining the property.
The title shown on the folio is guaranteed by the State which is bound to indemnify any person who suffers loss through a mistake made by the Land Registry. A purchaser can, therefore, accept the folio as evidence of title without having to read the relevant deeds.
Any unregistered property purchased in the state after 1 June 2011 is subject to compulsory first registration.
Registration is compulsory in the following cases:
- Land bought under the Land Purchase Acts.
- Land acquired after 1st January 1967 by a statutory authority.
- Land sold in Counties Carlow, Meath. Laois from 1 January 1970.
- Land sold in Counties Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon from 1 April 2006.
- From 1st October 2008, compulsory registration is extended to six additional counties, Clare, Kilkenny, Louth, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow. See Statutory Instrument 81 of 2008.
- With effect from 1 January 2010, compulsory registration is extended to the following additional counties; Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, South Tipperary and Waterford and cities Galway, Limerick and Waterford [as defined in Section 10 of the Local Government Act 2001] See Statutory Instrument 176 of 2009.
- From 1 June 2011, compulsory registration is extended to the cities and counties of Cork and Dublin. See Statutory Instrument 516 of 2010.
Please see the Services section of this website for information on searches, or our online service www.landdirect.ie.
No. The Land Registry map is an index map and identifies property, not boundaries. Therefore, we are not in a position to advise.
It is not possible even when using the highest order of survey techniques to achieve perfect accuracy when drawing/digitising features on a map. OSI maps are therefore subject to accuracy limitations. This means that scaled measurements between features shown on the map may not exactly match the actual distance measured between the same features on the ground. Different levels of accuracy apply depending upon the scale of the map and the original method used to create it.
Paper maps (particularly copy maps included in deeds) can be subject to distortions and inaccuracies, as any copying processes (such as photocopying, scanning) and printing processes can lead to the distortions in the map image.
If you feel that mapping of your registered title is incorrect, please contact the Land Registry at the earliest stage to establish if they can assist.
No. Ordnance Survey Ireland mapping does not depict legal property boundaries nor do the OSi attempt to show property ownership on the OSi map.
OSI only show the existence of physical features on the ground at the time of survey, which are surveyed to Ordnance Survey Ireland specification and accuracy standards. Although some property boundaries may be coincident with surveyed map features, no assumptions should be made in these instances.
Physical features on the ground change over time, and for this reason, Ordnance Survey Ireland has a continuous mapping revision programme. In the event that there are changes to the physical features on the ground, this may involve OSi surveyors visiting your property so that the mapping can be updated and amended. However, such revision will not affect legal land ownership and title deeds of a property and registered title will not change unless authorised by the Property Registration Authority.
Ordnance Survey Ireland maps use the same line symbol for a wall, fence, hedge, bank, ditch and stream. Where many features are represented in close proximity it may not be possible to represent them all at the scale of the mapping and it may not be obvious from the map which feature the line represents.
Even if a correct interpretation of the map can be made, the line on the map may not be the legal boundary. It is the position of the actual feature on the ground, not the position of the line on the map that is important in attempting to trace the position of the boundary.
Accurate analysis of the OSI map can usually only be achieved by taking the map onto the site and comparing it with the features on the ground. This can help decide what has been shown, what has been omitted for the sake of clarity or because the map scale does not allow multiple features in close proximity to be shown.
Where a fence, hedge or wall runs approximately parallel to another feature and so close that they cannot both be plotted correctly at the scale of survey, then only one feature is shown.
Ordnance Survey Ireland welcomes all customer feedback about the content and accuracy of their mapping. We understand that there may be a delay between changes taking place on the ground and when they are able to capture them within our continuous mapping revision programme. Any issues relating to the content or accuracy of our mapping that fall within OSI specification will normally be investigated at the next revision of the mapping for the area. For our large scale products the following revision cycles may be informative:
- For Urban and Suburban areas i.e. all 1:1,000 and some 1:2,500 plans, a one year revision cycle is established.
- For Periurban areas i.e. all other 1:2,500 plans, a three year cycle is established.
- For Rural areas i.e. all 1:5,000 plans, a five year revision cycle is established.
However, should you feel that these changes/amendments may affect your title plan; you need to contact the Property Registration Authority at the earliest opportunity.
Unfortunately Ordnance Survey Ireland does not keep records or surveyors’ notes of site visits. The map becomes the only record kept. The OSI are unable to comment on the detail of specific features shown on the mapping or provide reasons why or how a feature is shown on the map.
Ordnance Survey Ireland is unable to become involved in property boundary disputes. If you need an expert to prepare evidence, there are a number of relevant professional organisations including:
- The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) provides a searchable database of Land Surveyors who can act as Expert Witnesses and prepare evidence for court.
- The Irish Institution of Surveyors also provides a searchable database of Land Surveyors who offer a similar service.
All of our Practice Directions are published on this website – see the Legal Practices section.
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Registry of Deeds
You can book an appointment on our Registry of Deeds online booking system.
We are located at Kings Inns, Henrietta Street. There is a pedestrian entrance and access for the disabled at the top of Henrietta Street. Henrietta Street is almost directly opposite Bolton Street College. The Registry of Deeds can also be approached via Constitution Hill opposite Broadstone Bus Garage. Please note there is no car parking available in Kings Inns Car Park. For the locations of our office, please see the Contact section of this website.
Registration of Applications – €50.00
Vacate/ Satisfaction – €20.00
Official search – €20.00 for each name, for each property, for each county, for each period of ten years or part thereof. (Please furnish full description of property)
Search by Members of the Public – €2.00 for each name, for each county, for each period of ten years or part thereof
Copy Memorial/Copy Application Form –
• Certified copy Memorial /Certified copy Application Form €20.00
• Plain copy of microfilm of memorial/application form €1.00 per pageGeneral Search – No fee (for each day by each member of the public against all indexes prior to 1969).
• Names of all parties to the Deed
• Date of Deed
• The situation of the premises (e.g. Street or Townland) and location (e.g. Town or County).
Along with the deed, a relevant ROD Application Form is required. Details of the appropriate form to accompany a particular deed for registration are available on this website under the heading Forms.
Deeds are not retained in the Registry of Deeds. After registration they are returned to the lodging party. Only memorials/application forms are retained by this Registry.
Maps are not retained in the Registry of Deeds. There is no record of boundaries. No information can be found on foot of O.S. references. In some cases the extent of the property is described in the Memorial of the Deed conveying, leasing or mortgaging it.
No. The Registry of Deeds do not retain copies of the deeds. A certified copy of the memorial or application form may be of some assistance. To apply for a copy memorial/copy application form, the registration reference must be supplied. This is obtained by having a search done against the person who disposed of an interest in the property.
Registry of Deeds system does not record ownership of property. It records the existence of Deeds relating to transactions with property. So the deed conveying or mortgaging the property may be registered here. As our Index is a Grantors index you will need the name (both Forename and Surname) of the previous owner of the property or the name of the person/party who had a disposing interest in the property and an approximate time of when they sold the property. Lodge an application for a Search against the aforementioned accompanied by the prescribed fee as set out above.
In the case of property disposed of after death it is the Executor of the deceased who is the Grantor and it is the Executor who will appear in the Names Index and not the deceased person.
A right of way which is granted in a Deed of Grant of Right of Way may be recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
Where a right of way is referred to in a Deed of Conveyance, the specific details of such a right of way may not be recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
You need to have an official search done against each person who held an interest in the property from the date of the lease to date of periods that they held that interest.
Firstly check the original mortgage to see if it has a stamp on the front page indicating that it was registered in Registry of Deeds. Then, check that the lending institution has acknowledged receipt of all monies due. This acknowledgement is usually towards the back of the original deed of mortgage. If the answer is yes to both questions, lodge the original deed in the Registry of Deeds with €20 fees.
There are two separate systems for recording transactions in relation to property in Ireland:
• The Registry of Deeds system operated by the Registry of Deeds.
• The Registration of Title system operated by the Land Registry.Both systems are under the control and management of the Property Registration Authority. The two systems are mutually exclusive in the sense that in a particular transaction relating to land the title will be either:
• “unregistered” (i.e. the title is not yet registered in the Land Registry and so the Registry of Deeds system applies) or
• “registered” (i.e. the title has been registered in the Land Registry and so the Registry of Deeds system is irrelevant).Approximately 93% of the land in Ireland is registered which represents almost 90% of titles. The primary function of the Registry of Deeds system is to provide a system of recording the existence of deeds and conveyances affecting unregistered property. A failure to register may result in that document losing priority to a subsequent document which is registered. A search in the Registry of Deeds will disclose only whether documents have been executed dealing with the land in question – to discover the effect of these documents the documents themselves (which are not retained by the Registry of Deeds) will have to be examined.
When a title is accepted for registration in the Land Registry the original title documents are retained and permanently filed. A folio is opened in respect of the property and generally it is not necessary to refer to the original title documents again. A certified copy of this folio can be obtained with or without a copy of the map outlining the property.
The title shown on the folio is guaranteed by the State which is bound to indemnify any person who suffers loss through a mistake made by the Land Registry. A purchaser can, therefore, accept the folio as evidence of title without having to read the relevant deeds.
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Ground Rents
If the property is a private dwellinghouse there are two ways of buying out the Leasehold, that is with the Consent of the Landlord or by Arbitration, that is through the Land Registry. Please see the Practice Direction on Ground Rents in the Legal Practices section of this website, and the Guidelines for Ground Rents Purchase Scheme in the Services section.
Lodge Form A and Form C for the Consent cases and Form B and Form D for Arbitration cases.
The Ground Rents Office is located in the office of the Property Registration Authority, Chancery Street, Dublin 7.
Currently closed as we are currently working to make all of our public counter areas safe for both customers and staff.
A date for re-opening will be confirmed in due course.
The administration fees is €30 for the Consent cases where the Applicant resides on the property and €65 where the Applicant does not. For the Arbitration cases the fee is €105 where the Applicant resides on the property and €195 where the Applicant does not.