Land registration – Singapore condo for rent
Singapore condo for rent – In Singapore, land is registered under 2 systems:
- The ‘old’ system under the Registration of Deeds Act; and
- The ‘new’ system under the Land Titles Act.
Before 1 December 1960, lands in Singapore under private ownership were held in the ‘old’ system under the Registration of Deeds Act. It is however a cumbersome system for it requires title to be deduced up to 15 years to obtain “good root of title”. The ‘old’ system is also not satisfactory as registration of land transactions is not compulsory. To eliminate such deficiencies, in 1959, Singapore adopted the Torrens System from Australia for the ‘new’ system under the Land Titles Act which is simpler and less prone to error.
On 1 December 1960, the Land Titles Act came into operation with the aim of simplifying the transfer of lands as well as other dealings affecting lands. Land registration is now handled by the Land Titles Registry (LTR) which is under the umbrella of Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Once it is registered with LTR, it becomes an indefeasible and conclusive title to the registered owner and is guaranteed by the State. The State also undertakes to compensate those whose rights are adversely affected by an administrative error. All necessary particulars relating to the land including ownership, encumbrances, mortgages, charges, etc are registered. Anyone with access to the Internet can perform a title search through the INLIS website at www.inlis.gov.sg.
In the ‘old’ system under the Registration of Deeds Act, a title deed is called a Deed of Conveyance.
In the ‘new’ system under the Land Titles Act, registration is mandatory to effect the transfer of an estate or interest in land. Titles registered with LTR are grouped under the following two types:
- Certificate of Title – for all landed properties with their own land e.g. a bungalow.
- Subsidiary Strata Certificate of Title – for all properties with strata title e.g. a condominium. Strata title is an extension of the land title system which provides legal recognition of an air-space within a building as land that can be registered and has an undivided share of the common property.
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