The Scottish Government’s legislative programme for 2011-12 includes as priorities the Registration Bill and Long Leases Bill (which is being re-introduced after it ran out of time in the last parliament).

The Registration Bill aims to improve land registration in Scotland includes provision for:

• an improved system for handling inaccuracies;
• the introduction of a system of advance notices to protect buyers from last-minute adverse entries in the Land Register which would bring about an end to the current practice of the use of letters of obligation;
• a new procedure for dealing with title to common areas in new housing developments;
• ensuring that electronic conveyancing is competent in all cases including missives; and
• speeding up the transfer of properties onto into the Land Register from the Register of Sasines.

The Long Leases Bill allows conversion of the rights of tenants under ultra-long leases (175 years or more with more than 100 years to run) into ownership.