Housing and You…The “delays” in processing of those land titles

Apr 27, 2014 News

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By Leonard Gildarie

Last week I did promise that we would have been talking with the Lands Registry on what is happening there. This was after a few emails of the “delays” faced by new land owners in having their mortgages approved.
The processing of transfers and of new titles for land and properties has always been a contentious one. The reason that I say this is because of the letters to the editors. I would have also received calls and emails from readers who complained that their titles were taking too long. I can understand their frustrations.

Many persons, because of their own situation and just the basic, natural yearning to own their home, are impatient to start the process. I can relate to that. I have been there.
It has not been an easy time for the authorities in handling the volume of applications. The number of new housing schemes and regularizations of squatting areas have been challenging, to say the least.
This week I managed to get hold of the Registrar, Juliet Sattaur, and her team from the Land Registry. That Government department, which falls under the control of the Office of the President, has been playing a critical role for persons who have bought or have benefitted from lands in Guyana. The department is the one that ensures that all the paperwork are in and the transfers are effected. So when you would have received a copy of your title, it would have meant that the Lands Registry did their thing.
According to Sattaur, with regards to those Letters of Assurance, her department is up to date in the processing of the titles. For those joining us and not aware of what these letters are, it is simple.
The Ministry of Housing, through its operational arm, the Central Housing and Planning Housing Authority (CH&PA) would approve your house lot application and allocate you a piece of land. The processing of the paperwork or application for the title to that land is what takes some time. If you have received an allocation letter and want to build right away, the CH&PA has systems in place that allow you to receive a Letter of Assurance that can be used by the banks to fast-track the mortgage.
The Lands Registry, Sattaur explains, has implemented special systems that will fast-track processing of titles. What happens is that once a Letter of Assurance has been issued, an application will be placed in the Lands Registry for the title to be processed.
According to the Registrar, there are special systems in place to accommodate the Letters of Assurance. Currently there is no backlog, and the applications are processed are soon as they are in.
The official made it clear that there is also a system of priority given to senior citizens, persons living overseas and for applicants who are ill. Of course, evidence to substantiate these conditions is required, including passports, plane tickets and medical certificates.
Sattaur assured that there is no backlog or delay on those Letters of Assurance.
However, aside from those Letters of Assurance applications, the Registry has been having its hands full.
Last year alone 7,000 applications came in from CH&PA to process titles for land that has been allocated in the new housing schemes. Currently, the Registry is working on the 2012 applications.
The 7,000 applications included those from the “One Stop Shop” exercises of CH&PA and from the Housing Expo at the National Stadium. In other words, the volumes have increased tremendously for the Registry. More staffers have been taken on and a new office at New Amsterdam has been added to deal with the applications. Sattaur is required to visit the outlying branches weekly.
In essence, what the Registrar has said is that there is no backlog on the titles that are needed for mortgages.
Meanwhile, Sattaur pointed to a major problem facing her department.
In addition to those titles for new house lots, the department is also processing applications for transfers of properties. The Registry currently has over 500 applications for transfers that cannot be processed because of missing support documents, including rates and taxes and compliance. It means that these transfers cannot be effected. The reasons for this include lawyers not following up with the transactions. Those 500 transfer applications date back between 2007 and 2012.
The official appealed for persons who have incomplete transactions to follow-up on them with the aim of closure.
I will be seeking more information from this critical department as persons are awaiting titles. I think the idea of holding that piece of paper is rather reassuring to a lot of folks. It says you own a piece of Guyana.
Ms Sattaur has assured that she is willing to speak about her work, so we will grab the opportunity.
Soon, we will turn our attention to the Deeds Registry. I don’t foresee a problem with that one.
In the meantime, until we speak more about the Lands Registry and other pertinent issues, please continue to drop those emails to [email protected] or call me weekdays on 225-8491 or 225-8465 at Kaieteur News.

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