What is a property title deed?
A property’s title deed is a legal document that contains a complete record of all transactions related to a specific piece of registered property in Singapore. This document is important as it provides the following details:
- Description of the property
- Type of ownership (leasehold or freehold)
- Information about ownership interests and any encumbrances like mortgages on the property
- Names of the property owners, serving as proof of ownership
Before a sale and purchase agreement can be finalised, it is essential to establish proof of a clear title, which is provided by a valid title deed. The title deed verifies the rightful owner and ensures the property is free from encumbrances or other issues.
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What are the types of property title deeds available?
In Singapore, there are several types of title deeds, including:
- Certificate of Title for landed properties such as terrace houses or bungalows.
- Subsidiary Strata Certificate of Title for condominiums and other apartment units.
- Subsidiary Certificate of Title for Housing Development Board (HDB) flats.
Where is the property title deed kept?
If you have a mortgage on your property or used your Central Provident Fund (CPF) funds to purchase it, your title deed will be securely held at the Land Titles Registry of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) under the Paperless Title Scheme. This arrangement is based on agreements between participating financial institutions, statutory boards, and the SLA.
Your property title deed will be printed and sent to you for safekeeping under the following conditions:
- When you purchase the property without a mortgage or CPF funds
- Once you have fully paid off the mortgage and/or CPF funds
How to obtain or view a copy of your property title deeds?
If you have not received a printed and released title document, it is advisable to review your title deed before engaging in any transaction.
For owners of private properties or digitised HDB flats, you can easily access your title deed online at no cost through MyProperty by SLA.
This online service is always accessible 24/7 and requires logging in with your SingPass. However, you can only check title records for properties where you are the registered owner or have lodged a caveat as a purchaser.
If your property is not listed on MyProperty, it may be caused by one of the following reasons:
- No caveat lodged by you as the purchaser for the private property or HDB flat you have purchased.
- The property was purchased under a trust arrangement, with you as the beneficiary rather than the trustee.
- The identification number used during login differs from the records maintained by SLA.
