What is a TR1 Form: The In-Depth Guide

For most of us, our home is the most valuable asset we will ever own. When we sell our property, we must ensure the transfer of ownership of this important asset is recorded properly. The TR1 form is central to this task. But what does a TR1 form do and what does it contain? Read on to learn more about this vital document and why it matters when you sell your home.

What is a TR1 form?

The TR1 form is a legal document used in the UK to transfer property ownership from one party to another. It is commonly used during property sales, transfers of equity, and gifting property. Completing and submitting the TR1 form correctly ensures a legally binding transfer.  They complete the necessary details on the form, whilst the seller and buyer simply provide their signature. Concerned about extra fees for a Land Registry TR1 form? Don’t worry—most solicitors and conveyancers include its preparation in their overall service costs, avoiding unexpected charges.

Why is a TR1 form important? 

TR1 forms are very important for keeping a clear and central record of title deeds at the Land Registry. This data system helps prevent the loss, alteration, or theft of title deeds, ensuring the integrity and security of property ownership records.

Before submitting a TR1 form, a solicitor must conduct two important checks. Firstly, they must verify whether the property is already registered with the Land Registry. Secondly, they need to review the existing register to confirm and validate the details of the property.

Purpose and usage of the TR1 form

The TR1 form is central to maintaining accurate registered title records, whether for residential homes, commercial property transactions, or land transfers.

The TR1 form provides legal clarity by clearly identifying the parties involved—transferor (seller) and transferee (buyer)—along with detailed information about the property. Without it, property transactions would lack the legal structure and transparency needed to protect all parties, leaving room for disputes and ownership ambiguity.

Legal Prerequisite Nature of the TR1 Form

The TR1 form isn’t optional—it’s a legal prerequisite for any property transaction that involves a transfer of legal ownership. Without filing this document, the Land Registry cannot update the property’s ownership records, leaving the new owner without official recognition of their rights.

This legal requirement also applies to scenarios beyond standard sales, such as:

• Transferring equity during divorce settlements or separation agreements.
• Ownership changes due to probate after the passing of a property owner.
• Adding or removing a name from the ownership due to changes in financial contributions or other agreements.

To ensure accuracy and compliance, solicitors or conveyancers typically handle the preparation and submission of the TR1 form. Attempting to complete it independently without legal advice can result in errors that delay the transaction, create disputes, or compromise the security of the transfer process.

When the TR1 Form is Used?

The TR1 form is used in a wide range of property ownership scenarios, including:

1. Property Sales: It makes the transfer of ownership from seller to buyer official. This ensures the property details and legal information are recorded correctly.
2. Change of Ownership: This is important when ownership is partly or fully transferred. This can happen when property is gifted or passed between family members.
3. Commercial Property Transactions: Businesses often use this form to note changes in ownership. This applies to offices, warehouses, and other commercial properties.
4. Completion Day: On the last day of a property sale, the TR1 form is sent to the Land Registry. This records the transfer officially.
5. Existing Mortgage Transfers: If there is a mortgage on the property, the TR1 form tells the lender about the ownership change. It also ensures that the lender agrees to this transfer.

What information is in a TR1 form?

A standard TR1 form includes various pieces of information:

• Title number – every property has its own unique title number
• Property description – land, house, apartment, commercial property, etc
• Date of transfer
• Details of the transferor – the seller
• Details of the transferee – the buyer
• Address of the property
• The purchase price
• Title guarantees – confirms the seller owns the property and has the right to sell it
• Declaration of trust (if applicable) – records how a ‘beneficial trust’ may own the property
• Additional provisions – any special agreements between the parties
• Execution – the legal signing of the document

How to complete a TR1 form? 

It is not advised for property sellers to fill out and submit the Land Registry TR1 form on their own. Without legal training, you might make mistakes. These errors could raise doubts about your ownership or create confusion during the transfer process. When you fill out a TR1 form, you might also need to complete ID1 or ID2 forms. This is part of the identity verification process in property transactions. If you want to fill out the TR1 form yourself, you can do so. However, some mortgage lenders may require that a qualified legal professional prepares this document.

If you’re going to go solo, these are the important points to know:

TR1 forms – the completion process:

1. Obtain a TR1 form either from the Land Registry or through specialist conveyancing software.
2. Enter the title number, property address, transfer date, price paid, and the names of all parties involved as Seller (transferor) and Buyer (transferee).
3.  The Seller signs the form in the presence of an independent witness.
4. The Buyer also signs the form before a witness. If there is more than one buyer, all must sign.
5. The buyer’s mortgage lender signs the form if there is a mortgage to be ported over or discharged.
6. Witnesses certify that the necessary signatures are genuine by also signing the form.
7. Copies of the signatories’ identification, such as passports, must be enclosed.
8. The Land Registry fee, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) certificate, and any other supporting documents are attached.
9. Submit the complete form and supporting documents to the Land Registry either as a paper form or via an online portal.

Supporting documents:

Supporting documents to be filed with your TR1 form:

• Certificate of identity – proves who the buyer and seller are.
• AP1 or FR1 form – AP1 forms record the transfer of registered land. FR1 forms record the transfer of unregistered land. Confused? See the difference here.
• Stamp duty certificate – shows the due tax has been calculated and paid to HMRC.
• Mortgage Lender Consent (if applicable): When an existing mortgage is involved, lenders must approve and sign off on the ownership change.

Declaration of Trust (if applicable): If multiple buyers are involved, this outlines how the property’s equity will be divided among them.

Common errors to avoid:

Mistakes and omissions on a TR1 form can impact the transfer of ownership and delay your sale. Common errors to watch out for include:

• Incorrect property address or title number – this can invalidate the form
• Using an outdated TR1 form – the latest version must be used
• Information doesn’t match existing Land Registry records – typically this involves spelling errors in names and addresses
• Missing signatures, or the signatures in the wrong place
• Unclear or inconsistent sale price – it doesn’t match other sale documents
• Witnesses not providing their full names and addresses
• Failure to enclose supporting ID documents
• Unsigned mortgage lender consent when required

What fees and costs are associated with a TR1 form?

Legal professionals seldom itemise the cost to complete a TR1 form. This expense is usually bundled into their general conveyancing fee, and it will reflect the daily or hourly rate your solicitor charges. If you need a detailed breakdown to reveal this cost, simply ask your legal representative to provide one.

How long does it take to file a TR1 form?

It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, if there are no problems with the paperwork. This is how long the Land Registry needs to record the change of ownership for your property. Delays can happen if there are mistakes in the documents. They can also occur if third parties claim ownership. This is common in probate and divorce property deals. Additionally, delays may arise if the property description does not match what the Land Registry has. In these cases, the time to record the transfer of ownership can be uncertain. Until the issues are fixed, a clear title cannot be established.

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