Encyclopedia
Land Title Office / LTSA
The Land Title and Survey Authority runs BC's land title registry.
For example: A buyer's lawyer searches title through the LTSA. (Illustration only, not a real deal.)
Official source: Land Title and Survey Authority of BC
Example only, not a real client. Say you want to check who owns a building before making an offer. A title search through the Land Title and Survey Authority shows the registered owner and the charges on title, such as mortgages and easements.
What I’d tell a friend
Search title early. It is a quick way to see who owns a property and what is registered against it.
Why it matters to you
What's registered on title travels with the property, whether or not anyone told you. If you skip the search you can end up owning a mortgage, lien, covenant or easement that limits what you can do and what a lender will lend.
How to use it in your deal
Buyers should have your lawyer or notary search title early, before removing subjects, and read every charge listed, not just the owner's name. Ask for copies of documents behind each charge, such as covenants and rights of way, and the registered plans. Tenants on long leases can register their lease or a notice of it to protect against a sale or foreclosure. Lenders register mortgages to protect priority.
Owners should check title occasionally for unexpected filings like liens or certificates of pending litigation. The LTSA also runs ParcelMap BC and other survey records, useful for confirming boundaries. Online access is through myLTSA, with searches available to the public for a fee. You can order a title search yourself through LTSA for a small fee.
Mistakes I see
Reading only the summary. Not getting charge documents. Tenants not registering long leases. Assuming boundaries without checking plans.
In BC and Vancouver
The Land Title Act sets registration rules. The LTSA publishes guides on searching and registration.
Official sources: Land Title Act (BC Laws) · Land Title and Survey Authority of BC · LTSA: information for property owners
What it is
The Land Title and Survey Authority of BC runs the land title system, which records ownership and interests in land.
Title searches, plans and registered documents are available through it for a fee.
Using it
Order a title search before writing an offer, and get copies of key documents listed on title.
Your lawyer handles registration of the transfer and any new mortgage at closing, and checks that old charges are cleared.
A title search shows a snapshot on the day it is run, so a fresh search is done close to closing.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What charges are on title?
- What do the documents say?
- Should my lease be registered?
- Are the boundaries clear?
- Has anything been filed recently?
Keep reading
Related terms: Title search, Fee simple
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General information for British Columbia only. It isn’t legal, tax, accounting or financial advice, laws and rates change, and reading it doesn’t make you my client. Any numbers or scenarios are hypothetical. Check the linked official source and talk to a lawyer, accountant or other qualified professional before you act or sign anything. See the terms and disclaimer.