How to Check for Charges and Mortgages on a Property

A charge is a form of security registered against a property, most commonly a mortgage. All registered charges appear in Section C of the title register.

What Is a Registered Charge?

When a lender provides a mortgage, they register a charge against the property title. This means the lender has a legal interest in the property and must be repaid from the sale proceeds before the owner receives any money.

The register entry typically shows:

The date the charge was registered

The name of the lender (chargee)

A note that the charge was created by a specific document

Why Check for Charges?

**Buying a property**: You need to know the seller can provide clear title. Outstanding charges must be paid off on completion.

**Due diligence**: Landlords and investors check charges as part of property assessment.

**Probate**: When dealing with a deceased person's estate, you need to identify all debts secured against properties.

**Disputes**: In boundary or ownership disputes, knowing about charges can be relevant.

Multiple Charges

A property can have more than one charge registered against it. The order matters — the first-registered charge has priority over later ones. If the property is sold, the first charge is paid off first.

When a Mortgage Is Paid Off

When a mortgage is fully repaid, the lender should apply to remove the charge from the register. However, this doesn't always happen promptly. A charge still showing on the register after the mortgage is paid off doesn't mean the debt still exists — it just means the paperwork hasn't been completed.

If you're selling a property and an old charge remains, your solicitor will arrange for its removal as part of the conveyancing process.

Charges vs Restrictions

Don't confuse charges with restrictions. A restriction (in Section B) limits how the owner can deal with the property. For example, "no disposition by a sole proprietor" means a sole owner cannot sell without an additional trustee. Charges (in Section C) are security interests held by lenders.

Check Property Charges

Search for any property and purchase the title register to see all recorded charges on Online Land Registry.