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Land Titles - Safe and Secure

Posted On: 2008-10-03

The Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) operates the provincial land title registry and is driven by two primary goals:

  • to make sure landowners have a safe, reliable and marketable title to their land;
  • to keep the real estate market working smoothly and efficiently for everyone who relies on it, including REALTORS®.

The LTSA really offers peace of mind. The BC land title system is probably one of the most reliable in North America
and among the best in the world. BC’s Torrens System of Land Registration was originally invented in Australia, and was established in BC more than 100 years ago. It’s used in
Australia, New Zealand and several Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The land title system is mandated through provincial legislation.

  • It establishes clear evidence of ownership once land title documents are registered, and provides assurance for registered titles.
  • It allows British Columbians to buy, sell and hold property with much greater confidence and efficiency than those jurisdictions that require extensive historical searches to confirm land ownership and outstanding interests.
  • It has proven to be an extremely efficient, effective and low-cost way of protecting landowners’ interests.

Title fraud is an issue of public discussion and concern in BC. Homeowners are naturally concerned that the practice of identity theft poses a threat that their property could be fraudulently mortgaged or sold. The LTSA encourages property owners to carefully safeguard property-related and personal identity documents and other materials.

  • There are checks and balances in place in the land title system to minimize the opportunity for title fraud during regular land transactions in BC.
  • Owing to the complexity and significance of land transfer and mortgage transactions, most land dealings in BC are finalized with the assistance of a lawyer or notary, who requires proof of owner and buyer identity as part of their routine professional responsibilities and due diligence.
  • Ownership is once again compared against existing records when documents are submitted for registration by the LTSA. Additionally, a service is available to lawyers and notaries through BC OnLine for automatic notice of any activity on their client’s title.
  • As a consequence, title fraud has been almost unheard of in this province. BC’s land title system supports efficient and reliable conveyance practices. Due to the reliability of the information maintained, professionals are comfortable with transferring land and funds on their lawyer’s or notary’s undertaking
    (promise).

The reliability of the land title system depends on the traditional practice of real estate professionals to register
transactions in a timely manner. The LTSA is monitoring document registration practices to ensure the high quality
of the registry is maintained. No system is completely foolproof, of course, but the BC land title system has a proven track record of keeping titles safe, and the LTSA is committed to continuing that tradition. The LTSA depends heavily on the professionals involved in the system, and thanks REALTORS® for their central role in maintaining the public confidence in this essential service.

Adapted with permission of the Real Estate Institute of BC. The original article appeared in RI Input, Fall 2007.

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