Nova Scotians To Benefit From Online Property Registration

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Nova Scotians To Benefit From Online Property Registration

The province's new land registration system, which will provide consumers with better access to land-related information and give land owners a guarantee of title, will be in place provincewide by March 1.

"The new land registration system modernizes Nova Scotia's 250- year-old property-based system to give Nova Scotians, businesses and governments access to information and services that are the best in the world," said Barry Barnet, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

In the new system, property records are linked to the land parcel rather than the owner's name, and records are filed and stored electronically instead of through paper-based registries.

The system was first introduced in Colchester County in 2003. It has since been brought to Digby, Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Cumberland, Pictou and Antigonish counties. Halifax County was designated a land registration county on Dec. 1, 2004. The system will be implemented in remaining counties on March 1.

When all properties have been transferred to the new system in 10 to 15 years, historic title searches will be possible online and ownership information will be available within seconds. A great deal of information is already available online. That information streamlines property transactions for those who handle real estate transactions on a daily basis.

Each parcel of land in Nova Scotia must be converted to the new system. This is a one-time process that occurs when properties are sold, subdivided or mortgaged, or when property owners volunteer to convert their properties. The province has authorized lawyers to convert parcels to the new system and give land owners a guarantee of title.

There is no government fee for the conversion process but lawyers and surveyors will charge clients for the additional one-time services and expertise required on initial conversion of each parcel. Fees for these services are set by individual lawyers and surveyors, not by the government, so the price can vary greatly from firm to firm.

Developers should be aware that, if they are holding an inventory of approved but unsold lots, the conversion process is straightforward if all of the parcels have the same title history. Once the conversion process has been completed for one parcel, the conversion of the remaining parcels is as simple as "copy and paste."

When parcels have been converted, many of the constraints that can delay property transactions are removed. Consumers who own converted parcels should experience faster property transactions at lower costs because the time required for title searching and visits to various government offices to view documents is reduced.

For more information about the new land registration system, call toll-free 1- 866-518-4640 or visit the department's website at www.servicens.ca/property/landreg/.