Belgian Land Registry and Land Registration Present Future

Belgian Land Registry and Land Registration Present & Future Gerard Vandenhouwe & Johan Pieters ELRA – 27 April 2009

Overview 1. The present Belgian Land Registry: a part of the land registration 2. The future Belgian land registration: a part of the patrimonial documentation 2

1. The present Belgian Land Registry (i) Caveat (ii) Organisation of the Land Registry (iii) Operation of the Land Registry (iv) Effects of registration at the Land Registry 3

1. The present Belgian Land Registry (i) Caveat Land Registry (Mortgage Office) and land registration Without the legal context Struggle with terminology 4

1. The present Belgian Land Registry (ii) Organisation of the Land Registry 48 Land Registries (+ 1 Ship Registry) Deeds are registered where the land is located Registrar: personal responsible (and insured) 5

1. The present Belgian Land Registry (iii) Operation of the Land Registry Mortgage Act (16 December 1851) What can be registered at the Land Registry ? How is the deed registered at the Land Registry ? A person-based registration 6

1. The present Belgian Land Registry (iv) Effects of registration at the Land Registry Enforceability of registered property rights Priority: first in time 7

2. The future Belgian land registration (i) Patrimonial Documentation: a revolution (ii) Aim: legal certainty (iii) Strategy: cooperation (iv) A dream or Yes, we can ? 8

2. The future Belgian land registration (i) Patrimonial Documentation: a revolution Integration ‘Detaxation’ and focus on documentation & information 9

2. The future Belgian land registration (ii) Aim: legal certainty Land Registry + Registration Office + Cadastre From deeds registration to title registration ? 10

2. The future Belgian land registration (iii) Strategy: cooperation Cooperation Authentic sources of data One-stop shopping Privacy ? 11

2. The future Belgian land registration (iv) A dream or Yes, we can ? A long and winding road Computer assisted registration 12

Noblesse oblige: Robert Burns The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy! To A Mouse. On turning her up in her nest with the plough, November 1785 The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew And leaves us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy! 13