What happens with Lifetime Mortgages when the Land Registry makes a mistake?
Background
Circumstances
Our clients had lived in their home for many years and decided it was time to access the value tied up in their property through a lifetime mortgage. As part of the process, a copy of the Land Registry Title Plan was sent to them for review. It was then that a quiet concern became apparent: a small path and their front doorstep had been left off the plan entirely.
What might seem like a minor administrative oversight could become a serious legal hurdle. Lenders need confidence that the property they’re lending against has clear, unobstructed legal access. Without it, a property can be harder to sell, develop, or use, and its value may be affected. For Mr and Mrs V, this meant that without resolving the error, their equity release could have stalled or worse, fallen through altogether.
The approach
At Tivoli Legal, we believe in getting ahead of problems before they cause unnecessary stress. When we identified the title plan discrepancy, we didn’t wait for it to become a roadblock; we put a clear, proactive action plan in place straight away.
We know that Equity Release offers come with time-limited validity periods, so every day mattered. Our approach was methodical, thorough, and built entirely around Mr and Mrs V’s needs.
Our focus:
To resolve the Land Registry error as quickly and smoothly as possible so that our clients could complete without unnecessary delays or worry. We kept them informed at every step, explained what we were doing and why, and made sure they never felt alone in navigating what could have been a very stressful situation.
What we did
- Carefully reviewed all documents & compared: We carefully reviewed all documents that our clients had retained from their original purchase of the property. We compared the plans in those documents with the current Land Registry Title Plan and conducted detailed map searches to determine exactly where and how the error occurred.
- Obtained photographic evidence: We asked our clients to provide historical and current photographs of the path and doorstep, along with any additional evidence demonstrating their continuous, unchallenged use and ownership.
- Requested urgent Land Registry review: With a comprehensive evidence bundle assembled, we presented the case to the Land Registry and requested an urgent review. The strength of the evidence spoke for itself.
3 days
To obtain a lender offer
2 days
Later they embarked on their retirement
Later they embarked on their retirement
The result
The Land Registry reviewed the evidence and amended the Title Plan to correctly include the path and front doorstep. With the error resolved, Mr and Mrs V were able to proceed with their Equity Release confidently and on time. What could have been a lengthy, stressful legal dispute was resolved proactively, before it ever had the chance to derail their plans.
The moment that mattered
Mr and Mrs V were delighted with how quickly and efficiently the issue was resolved. They expressed confidence in our ability to promptly identify the problem and implement a clear, effective action plan. They were also pleasantly surprised by how smoothly their Equity Release application progressed after the Title Plan correction, allowing them to move forward without unnecessary stress or delays.
What this means for you
Title Plan errors and boundary issues are more common than you think and can delay or derail the process. At Tivoli Legal, we swiftly resolve these issues to ensure smooth, stress-free transactions.
Partner with us, and you are guaranteed expert support, proactive collaboration with third parties and a seamless experience that your clients deserve.


