Does the Irish Land Registry offer a title deeds storage service?
The Irish Land Registry, managed by Tailte Éireann, does not offer a specific title deeds storage service for the public. When a property is registered with the Land Registry, the original title deeds and related documents are examined, and their legal effect is recorded on a folio, which serves as the official record of ownership. These original deeds are typically archived by the Land Registry and are not available for public access unless specific conditions are met, such as under Rule 188 of the Land Registration Rules 1972-2011, which requires the applicant to demonstrate entitlement (e.g., being the registered owner or having court authorization).
For unregistered properties, the Registry of Deeds records the existence of deeds, but the original documents are returned to the person who lodged them, not stored by the Registry. There is no mention in the provided sources or general information of a service where individuals can store their title deeds with the Land Registry for safekeeping. Instead, property owners are typically responsible for storing their own deeds, often with their solicitor or in a secure personal location, such as a bank.
If you need to replace lost deeds for a registered property, you can obtain a certified copy of the folio or other documents from the Land Registry via services like landdirect.ie for a fee (e.g., €40 for a certified copy folio). For unregistered properties, a copy of the ROD application form (summarizing the deed) can be obtained from the Registry of Deeds for €20 (certified) or €1 per page (plain).
If you're seeking a storage solution, you might consider private services (e.g., solicitors or secure document storage companies) or inquire directly with Tailte Éireann for any specific arrangements, though no such service is explicitly advertised. For further details, you can visit
www.tailte.ie or
www.landdirect.ie.
