A trainee lawyer is assisting with the sale of a listed property which has a registered title. The seller's title will need to be deduced to the buyer's lawyer as part of the pre-contract package. Which of the following will need to be provided in order to deduce title under the Standard Conditions of Sale (5th edition - 2018 Revision)?

• A. Original deeds only
• B. Mortgage deed and consent form
• C. Copies of documents referred to on the register
• D. Official copies of the title register, the title plan and copies of documents referred to on the register

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how title is proved for registered land. Under the Standard Conditions of Sale, the buyer’s solicitor needs a complete title package to verify ownership and any rights, restrictions, or charges affecting the property. For registered titles, the Land Registry is the source of truth, so the essential documents are official copies that directly extract what the register says.

Official copies of the title register show who is registered as the owner and record any entries like easements, covenants, restrictions, and charges. The title plan provides the exact boundaries and the specific land area that is owned. Copies of documents referred to on the register supply the substantive content behind those entries—such as details of rights or obligations that affect the property.

Original deeds are not required for deducing title when the property is registered, since the registry holds the authoritative record. A mortgage deed and consent form aren’t part of the basic title deduction package unless they are specifically referred to on the register; in practice, those documents would be captured by copies of documents referred to on the register if relevant.

Thus, the complete and correct deduction package is official copies of the title register, the title plan, and copies of documents referred to on the register.