What work is required by the Land Register following the abolition of the feudal system and what the timescale is for completion of this wo…

The work required by Registers of Scotland in relation to the Land Register derives not only from the abolition of the feudal system of land tenure in Scotland which was abolished by the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, but also from the related reform of title conditions resulting from the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.
The main type of work in the Land Register that arises as a consequence of this legislation is in relation to the Burdens Section of the title sheet. The title sheet is the entry in the Land Register for an individual property. The Burdens Section sets out the various conditions that affect the property. These frequently include conditions arising from the feudal system of land holding. The legislation affects existing conditions and feudal burdens that appear in the title sheets of most of the titles that are currently registered in the Land Register.
The work required will involve the updating of over a million title sheets that have become inaccurate after 28 November 2004, because the legislation has affected entries in the Burdens Section. Certain categories of title conditions included in registered titles have become extinct.
All existing registered titles will be examined and those title conditions that have been extinguished by the legislation, removed. The work will be undertaken on a phased and systematic basis. An outline timetable for delivery will be published during 2005-06. The updating work will be completed by 2014, as is anticipated in the legislation.