Apply to the land registration tribunal

Printable version

1. Overview

You need to apply to the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber (First-tier Tribunal) if you want to correct or cancel certain documents relating to registered land.

You may also be referred to the tribunal by HM Land Registry if you’re in a dispute over a change to the land register (known as a ‘reference case’).

If you want to change the title register or title plan, contact HM Land Registry directly.

The tribunal is independent of government. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

Help you can get

You may want to get help and advice before you appeal, for example from a lawyer.

2. Apply to the tribunal

Apply to the tribunal if you want to correct or cancel (sometimes known as ‘set aside’) certain documents relating to registered land. You can also object to someone else’s application. These are known as ‘rectification cases’.

Apply to make a change to a document

Download and fill in the application form and send it to the address on the form.

You must also include a statement saying that you believe that the facts stated in the application are true.

The tribunal will then send, or tell you to send, a copy of the application to all other interested parties.

You’ll be told whether there’ll be a hearing to decide your case.

Object to a change of a document

Download and fill in the objection form and send it to the address given in the form.

You must send the form within 28 days of getting your copy of an application to change the register.

Your response must include your reasons for objecting to the application, giving all relevant facts and evidence

You’ll need to include a list of and copies of all documents that:

  • are important to your case
  • the tribunal and all interested parties will need to understand the case

You’ll be told by the tribunal if there’ll be a hearing to decide your case.

Get help

You can get help with the appeal process and forms by contacting the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber. The helpline cannot give you legal advice.

Land Registration division of the Property Chamber
landregistration@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7291 7250
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

3. Being referred to the tribunal

Your case may be referred to the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber if somebody disputes your application to HM Land Registry. This is known as a ‘reference case’.

Both parties will be sent a letter by the tribunal after your case has been referred by HM Land Registry.

The letter will explain whether you’re the ‘applicant’ or the ‘respondent’. Generally, you’ll be named as the applicant if the tribunal thinks you’re the party that needs to prove its case.

Making a ‘statement of case’

Applicants

You have 28 days after getting the letter to send your ‘statement of case’ to the tribunal and the respondent. The letter will tell you where to send your statement.

Your statement must include:

  • your name and address (and an address where documents can be sent to you)
  • the name and address of your legal representative (if you have one)
  • your reasons for supporting or objecting to the original application to HM Land Registry, giving all relevant facts and evidence

You need to include copies of documents that:

  • are important to your case
  • are needed to understand the case

You also need to include a list of the documents.

After the other parties have responded to the tribunal, you’ll be told if there’s going to be a hearing.

Respondents

You have 28 days after getting the applicants ‘statement of case’ to send your own case to the tribunal and the applicant.

Your statement must include your reasons for supporting or objecting to the original application to HM Land Registry, giving all relevant facts and evidence.

You need to include copies of all documents that:

  • are important to your case
  • are needed to understand the case

You also need to include a list of these documents.

The tribunal will then contact you to tell you if there’s going to be a hearing.

Starting court proceedings

You or the other party can be ordered by the tribunal to start court proceedings at any time. This will happen if the tribunal cannot handle your case.

You can also contact the tribunal and ask them to make the other party start court proceedings, or voluntarily start proceedings yourself.

Get help

You can get help with the appeal process and forms by contacting the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber. The helpline cannot give you legal advice.

Land Registration division of the Property Chamber
landregistration@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7291 7250
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

4. What happens at the hearing

You may have to attend a hearing where you (or your legal representative) and the other parties will present your cases to a judge.

The judge will decide:

  • which party wins the case
  • if any costs are payable by one party to another

You’ll usually be told the outcome of the case within 42 days of the hearing.

Preparing for the hearing

You’ll be told the time and date of the hearing and where it’s being held. You’ll usually be told at least 14 days beforehand if there’s going to be a hearing. Hearings can be held sooner than this under exceptional circumstances or if all parties agree to a shorter notice period.

You’ll be sent instructions on how to prepare and exchange evidence after all the parties have given their statements of case.

If you or your witness or representative is outside the UK and wants to give live video or audio evidence, contact the tribunal to request it. Tell the tribunal what country you, the witness or representative is in and what type of evidence is being given. You must do this as soon as possible.

Decisions without hearings

The tribunal may make a decision without a hearing if all the people involved agree or if no one objects once given notice.

The people involved can also ask the tribunal to make a decision without a hearing.

Getting a time extension

You can ask for a time extension at any point in the proceedings.

You should ask all other parties involved to agree to an extension before applying to the tribunal.

5. If you lose your case

You can appeal to the Upper tribunal (Land Chamber) if you’re not happy with the verdict. You must ask the First-tier Tribunal for permission first.

You can also ask the First-tier Tribunal to set aside their decision if you think there was a problem with the tribunal’s procedure, for example you did not receive a notice of a hearing.

Read guidance on how to challenge a decision for details.

You can complain about the tribunal staff or the service you received. You cannot complain about the decision.

6. Legislation and previous decisions

You can read the rules the tribunal must follow and its decisions on previous cases if you’re representing yourself or someone else.

The tribunal will make a decision based on the Land Registration Act 2002.

The tribunal must follow the rules and process in:

You can also search the decisions database to see how and why previous decisions have been made.