Registration of Deeds and Instruments

Registration of Deeds

The Registry of Deeds, which administers the Registration of Deeds Act and its rules, keeps a record of deeds lodged against land held under the old Common Law system of land registration. Today, there are hardly any deeds lodged at the Registry of Deeds.

Under common law, interest in land is passed by the act of the parties, that is, when a deed is signed, sealed and delivered. Under the Act, it is not compulsory for owners of land to register the deeds at the Registry of Deeds.

However, most deeds are registered in the Registry of Deeds as it offers priority to a claimant under a deed as against other potential claimants to the land. Failure to register a deed under the Registry of Deeds means that it cannot be produced in a court of law as evidence of title to the land. Deeds can be lodged at:

Singapore Land Authority
55 Newton Road #12-01
Revenue House
Singapore 307987

The form a deed takes varies according to individual circumstances. The three formal requirements for all deeds are that they must be signed, sealed and delivered. Deeds are finally registered within a few days from lodgment. Images of the deeds are then made.

Find out more about the Fee.

Registration of Instruments

With effect from 18 January 2006, documents relating to private properties are to be submitted electronically here while documents relating to HDB properties are to be lodged manually at:

Singapore Land Authority
55 Newton Road #12-01
Revenue House
Singapore 307987

Under the Land Titles System, a Land Titles Register is maintained. The land register for each parcel of land has a description of the land, the nature of the estate, i.e. freehold or leasehold and the proprietor of the estate. It also details particulars of other interests affecting the land, including mortgages, charges and restrictive covenants.

Under this system, registration is mandatory to effect the transfer of an estate or interest in land. To be registrable, all documents must be lodged in the approved form either manually at the counter of the Registry or electronically.

Upon lodgment, the documents are given a priority number. The date and time of lodgment are shown on the lodgement form. Instruments lodged are provisionally accepted and particulars of the lodgements are reflected on the land register.

If an instrument is not in order for registration, the Registry will inform the solicitors of the grounds of objection of the instrument. Depending on the nature of the objection, the solicitors may be requested to:

• amend the instrument

• forward the requisite supporting documents or duplicate documents; or

• withdraw the instrument from registration.