ATTENTION: Land Title Searches no longer available via the Board as of March 1

Beginning on March 1, 2018, new land title searches will be required to be completed prior to submitting a listing to be published on the MLS®. This means within a few days of taking the actual listing, and not weeks or months prior.

While Board staff has for a long time assisted members in conducting their title searches, it is no longer best practice – for you or your clients. As of March 1, 2018 the Board will no longer provide title searches, members will need to conduct their own title searches prior to, or at the time of taking a listing.

The best practice and the current standard is for the listing agent to have the title search available at the time they take a listing, and attach a copy to the listing in Paragon once it has been posted. Without a title search on hand when taking a listing contract, it’s not possible to confirm either the details on the contract relating to the registered owner or any other details regarding the saleability of the property. In other words, until you have the property title for a listing, you can’t be sure that a contract with the seller is legally valid.

A copy of the new title search should be submitted to your office with the new listing paperwork. The Board does not require your office to send a copy to the Board with your listing. Once your listing is active on Paragon, please add a copy of the search to the Associated Documents tab on Paragon, within 24 hours of the listing becoming active.

How do I add a document to a listing in Paragon?

There is a guide on REALTOR Link® that can show you how.

How can I complete title searches?

The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia’s website, LTSA.ca, features a comprehensive platform for completing your own land title searches quickly and easily.

You’ll need to create an LTSA account in order to complete your search, and there are two types to choose from – Enterprise or Explorer. Here’s what they offer:

Explorer:

  • A single user account
  • 40 or fewer land title records each year
  • Restricted to land title document search
  • No historical titles
  • Only electronic delivery
  • No electronic filing of documents
  • Payment by credit card
  • $2.50 service transaction fee (plus title search fee $9.45)
  • Account activation is immediate

Enterprise:

  • Allows you to configure an account for use by many users
  • Searches for all types of land title documents
  • Electronic filing of documents is available
  • Postal and/or electronic delivery
  • Tax certificates can be ordered
  • Pay using a pre-paid $250 account deposit
  • $1.50 service transaction fee (plus title search fee $9.45)
  • Account activation takes 3 to 5 days

With an LTSA account you can:

  • Request plans, documents, registered titles and State of Title Certificates
  • Search by:
    • Parcel Identifier (PID) or title number
    • Document and plan number
    • ParcelMap BC Search
  • Online service is available from 6 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday.

You will need a PID number or Title number to do the search.  This online tutorial from the LTSA explains the search process, step by step:  LTSA 6 Minute Tutorial. Online service is available from  6 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday.

You can also request a title search in person at a Land Titles office:

You can also get counter service at a Land Titles office. The nearest one to the Fraser Valley is at Suite 300, 88 Sixth Street in New Westminster which is open 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

To request a title search you must:

  1. Know the property’s PID, or legal description
  2. Pay the Searches fee of $9.45 for each title
    • Fees are payable in Canadian funds via debit card, Visa, MasterCard, cheque or money order payable to: Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia

The Land Title and Survey Authority of BC (LTSA) does not process title searches by telephone or email, nor can it conduct research on your behalf.

 

Originally published January 18, 2018