Which of the following best describes the protection the official search gives the buyer?

Question

A solicitor acts for a buyer of a registered freehold house, with a mortgage. Before completion she applies for an official search of the whole of the title with priority (form OS1), and the result reveals no adverse entries. Completion takes place a week later.

Accepted Answer

If the buyer's application to register reaches the Land Registry by the end of the 30th working day after the search is entered on the day list, it takes priority over intervening entries.

Answer

A. It protects the buyer's priority for 30 calendar days from the date of completion, so the buyer must apply to register the transfer within that period.

Answer

B. It freezes the register, so the Land Registry cannot make any entry on the title during the priority period, whatever applications are lodged by other people.

Answer

C. If the buyer's application to register reaches the Land Registry by the end of the 30th working day after the search is entered on the day list, it takes priority over intervening entries.

Answer

D. It protects the buyer for 30 working days from the date of exchange of contracts, so any entry made on the title after exchange is postponed to the buyer's application to register the transfer.

Answer

E. It is relevant only to unregistered land, so it gives a buyer of registered land no priority over entries made before the buyer applies to register.

Priority period of an official search of registered land (OS1)