IrelandWhat is the Land Registry's guarantee of title?
The Land Registry in Ireland guarantees the title of registered owners under section 31 of the Registration of Title Act 1964, meaning the State indemnifies them against loss caused by errors or omissions in the register.
What the Law Says
The Registration of Title Act 1964 establishes a statutory guarantee of title for land registered with the Land Registry in Ireland. This guarantee is not merely administrative — it creates a legal obligation on the State to compensate registered owners who suffer loss due to mistakes in the register.
Section 31 of the Registration of Title Act 1964 provides the core legal basis for the Land Registry’s guarantee of title. It confirms that the State assumes responsibility for the accuracy of the register and undertakes to make good any loss suffered by a person as a result of an error or omission in the register — provided certain conditions are met.
This guarantee applies only to registered owners and their successors in title. It does not extend to unregistered interests or rights that do not appear on the register, nor does it cover losses arising from fraud committed by the registered owner themselves.
The indemnity is payable from the State’s Consolidated Fund, reinforcing that this is a public, statutory assurance — not a private insurance arrangement.
Statutory TextThe State shall make good any loss suffered by a person by reason of any error or omission in the register.
— Registration of Title Act 1964, s. 31 — Guarantee of title
What to Do
Confirm your property is registered with the Land Registry (not just recorded in the Registry of Deeds).
If you suffer financial loss due to an error or omission in the register (e.g., incorrect boundary description, missing charge, or wrongful deletion of an interest), gather evidence of the loss and the register entry in question.
Submit a formal claim for indemnity to the Property Registration Authority (PRA) under section 31.
The PRA will assess whether the loss arose directly from a register error and whether you acted in good faith and without negligence.
If approved, compensation is paid from the State’s Consolidated Fund.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.