Property in Scotland is in the midst of a seismic shift. Land registration was first brought into Scotland in 1979, yet by 2014 only about 24% of Scotland's land mass was registered.

In May 2014, the Scottish Government announced its commitment to have all public land registered in the Land Register within 5 years, and all private land within 10 years. This affects all land and buildings in Scotland, regardless of whether they are residential, commercial, rural or urban.

This unprecedented push towards registering all of Scotland's property by 2024 means that as more owners define their land and rights, those who do not – or who don't register correctly – can be caught out.

Frances Rooney from Harper McLeod will discuss some key changes to law and practice under the Land Registration (etc) Scotland Act 2012, focusing on such aspects as title examination, reliance on the Register, and protecting existing rights and encumbrances. She will also consider the race to the Register, the impact of the phased closure of the Sasine Register, and the challenges and opportunities for businesses in registering their titles for the first time.