UKI bought a property but there's a charge on the title I wasn't told about.
If a charge on the property title wasn’t disclosed before you bought it, you may still be bound by it — unless it’s an 'overriding interest' or you qualify as a 'purchaser for valuable consideration' under the Land Registration Act 2002.
What the Law Says
The Land Registration Act 2002 governs how interests in registered land affect buyers — especially when those interests aren’t visible on the official title register.
Under the Land Registration Act 2002, most third-party interests (like mortgages, restrictive covenants, or charges) must be entered on the title register to bind future owners. If they’re not registered, they usually won’t affect a buyer — but there are important exceptions.
Section 29 is central here: it sets out when a purchaser for valuable consideration takes the land free of certain interests — but only if those interests are not protected on the register or by being overriding interests.
Crucially, if a charge *is* registered on the title, it binds all subsequent owners — even if you weren’t told about it during the sale. The law presumes you’ve checked the official register before buying.
Statutory TextA registrable disposition of a registered estate made for valuable consideration binds the estate immediately, whether or not the disposition is registered, but only so far as it confers a right which is capable of being registered.
— Land Registration Act 2002, s. 29 — Effect of registrable dispositions
What to Do
Check the official title register (via HM Land Registry) to confirm the exact nature and date of the charge.
Review your contract of sale and pre-contract enquiries — if the seller failed to disclose a registered charge, this may amount to misrepresentation.
Contact your conveyancer immediately — they may have missed the charge during searches, potentially giving rise to a negligence claim.
If the charge is unregistered but still binding (e.g., an overriding interest), seek legal advice on whether it can be challenged or postponed.
Consider applying to HM Land Registry to rectify the register — but strict time limits and eligibility rules apply.
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.