A Form LL restriction is a valuable tool to prevent fraudsters from selling your property without your knowledge. You will need to verify your ID face-to-face or via Zoom with a solicitor.
Why do you need a Form LL restriction?
With property fraud on the rise, especially among first-time buyers, a form LL restriction eliminates the risk of your house being sold without your knowledge.
You might own a buy-to-let property, for example, and your tenants steal your ID to sell the property. Without a face-to-face ID check, a solicitor may be duped into believing they are legitimate. The property transaction would have been impossible with a Land Registry Form LL restriction.
Landlords most frequently use Form LL restrictions; however, if you live at the property, you can apply for Form RX1 and pay a one-off fee to put a Form LL restriction in place. Form LL restrictions are a cost-effective additional layer of protection against potential property fraud.
How it works
Form LL restrictions are designed to combat property sale fraud. Solicitors must verify a vendor’s ID in a face-to-face meeting or via Zoom and issue a certificate of compliance.
To mortgage or sell a property, a fraudster must convince a solicitor they were the rightful owner and secure a certificate. The restriction therefore acts as a deterrent to potential wrongdoers.
Is a Form LL restriction a good idea?
There are pros and cons to a Form LL restriction; for example, the restriction can significantly slow down the selling or rental process. Additionally, you will need to be careful about the specific wording.
Instead, you may prefer signing up for the HM Land Registry’s Property Alert service. This free service alerts you of any activity regarding your property so you can take appropriate action.
Protecting their most valuable asset is worth the additional hurdles for most people. Criminals often target the most vulnerable, such as care home residents or people working away from home. A Form LL restriction gives you peace of mind that fraudsters won’t target and sell your property by making it a less tempting proposition.
