ACT NO. VU of 1995 AN A CTto a~nd th~ Land Registration Act, Cap. 296. (lpoicu)

I IIssenl.

(L.S.)

UGO MI FSUO B ONNIO

Preside nt

4th April , 1995

ACT NO. VU of 1995

AN A CTto a~nd th~ Land Registration Act, Cap. 296.

BE IT ENAC I EO by th e President, by and with the advice and

conse nt of Ihe House of Representatives, in Ihis present Parliamenl

asse mbled . and by the authorilY o f the same , as follows: -

( I) This Act may be cited as the Land Registration

(Ame ndment) Act, 1995 and shall be read and construed asone with the

Land Registration Act, hereinafter referred to as "tbe princi pal Act".

(2) The followi ng provisions or this Act sball come inlO force

o n such date as Ihe Minisler responsible for justice may appoin t by

notice in Ihe Gazette, and differe nt dales may be so appoin ted for

differe nt provisions and purposes of this Act .

Section 2 of the principal Act shall be amended as fo llows:·

(a) immediately after the definition of ~eh a rge" there shall

be inse rted tbe following new definitions

~" com pulsory registration area" means any area in Mall"'-

declared by th e Minister to be a registration area under section

10 o f Ihis Act and includes any area declared or deemed to be

a regi stration a rea by or unde r any oth er law;

" declaratory registration area" means any area in Malta

declared as such by th e Minister in virtue of sections ISor 16 0f

th is Act;" ;

(b) immediately after the definition o f "ove rriding inte rests"

there sball be added tbe following new definit ion

""person" includes a physical or legal person, whether such

person is corplmte or unincorporate;" ;

(c) for the definition of "register" there shall be substituted

the following

""register" includes the day.book containing the

progressive num ber of applications submitted, the register of

titles or the register of charges, and any other document on

which annotations are to be made in virtue of this Act , and

"registered" shall be construed according,lYi" and

(d) for lhe definition of "regislJation area" there shall be

substituted the foUowing

""registratio n area" means a compulsory registration

area or a declaratory registration area as the case may be;".

Section 4 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows:·

·A~nd""D'of

(a) the present subsections (2) and (3) thereof shall be priDciplllAcl .

renumbered (3) and (4) respectively;

(b) immediately after subsection (1) thereof there shall be

added the following new subsection

"(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appoi nted

Land RegislJar unless he is an advocate or a notary public of

not less than seven years' standing. "j and

(c) in subsection (3) thereof as renumbered, for the words

"five years' standing." there shall be substituted the words "three

years' standing." .

(a) is·subartikoli tiegh u (2) u (3) gha ndhom jigu e numerati

mill-gdid (3) u (4) rispcttivame nt;

(b) minnufih waTa s-subartiko lu ( I) tieghu ghandu jiidied is-

subartikolu gdid li gej

"(2) Pe nuna ma Iku nx kwalifikata li tinhatar

Registra tur ta' I-Artiiiel kemm-il darba ma tkuru: I'tadme l

bhala avuka t }cw nu!ar pubblik u ghal mill-anqas scba' snin. " ;

"

(t) fi s·subarlikolu (3) liegh u kif en umeral mill-gdid, minflok

il-kliem " hames snin," gtJandhom jidhJu I-kliem "tliel snin," ,

In seaion 7 of the principal Act , for the words "may fu rnish to Amo:nd"",,,, of

the Land Registrar" lhere shall be substituted lhe words "shall , within ocaion

the prescribed time, furnish to the Land Registrar".

S. Section 10 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows:·

(a) the present provision shall be renumbered as subsection

(1) thereof;

(b) in subsection (1) as renum bered, for the words "and in

such other manner as be may deem appropriate." lhere shall be

substituted the words "and in such other manner as be may deem

appropria te, and such areas shall be known as Compulsory

Regislmtion Areas."; and

(c) immediately after subsection (I) there shall be added the

follOwing new subsections

U(2) Where land is registered under the provisions of

subsection (2) o f section 12, subsection (2) of section 14,

sections 15, 16, 16A o r 17 oflhis Act tha t land shall henceforth

be deemed 10 be a compulsory registration area.

(3) The Minister may also declare an area 10 be panly a

Compulsory Registration Area and partly a Declaratory

Registration Area, and moreover the same area may be

declared to be such a registration area for givingeffcct to all o r

any of the purposes and provisions of this A ct .~ .

L·artikolu IOta' I·Att prinCipaJi gl'tand u jigi emend at kif gei

(a) id-dispoZizzjoni li hemm ghandha tigi enumerata mill-

gdid bhala subartikolu (I) tiegb u ;

(b) fis-subartikolu (1) ki f e nume rat mill-gdid , mi nflo k il-

kliem " u b'd ak il-mod li iidhirl u xie raq," ghandhom jidl'llu I-kliem

" u b' kull mod iehor li jidhirlu xie raq , u dawk I-arei ghandhom

ikunu maghrufa bl'tala Arei ta' Registrazzjoni Obbligato rji. ... ; u

(t) mi nnufih wara s-subartikolu (I) ghandhom jitdiedu 5-

subartikoli gOOda li gejjin

k(2) Meta art ligi regislrll.ta lahl id-dispotizzjonijiel Ias-

"Subartikolu (2) la' l-a rtikolu 12, is-subartikolu (2) la' \-artikolu

14, l-artikoli 15, 16, 16A jew 17 ta' dan I-Att dik I-art libda

titqies li hi ra rea la' registrazzjoni obbligatorja.

(3) II-Ministru jista' wk ol1, jiddikjara area li tkun parti

bl'lala Area ta' Regislrazzjoni Obbligatorjll u part! bhala Area

ta' Registrazzjoni D ikjaratorja, u barn min n dan I· isles,<; area

tista' tlron dikjarata area la' registrazzjoni bhal dik sa biex

isehhu l-finijiel u dispo:tizzjonijiet kol1 ha ta' da n I-An Jew

x' uhud minn hom .

k.

Minflok l-artikolu It ta' I-Att prinCipali ghandu jidhol dan li Sooil..ujoni

la· I_."i kol~ 11

I.' I_An

pri"tipoll .

(1) Id-dispotinjonijiet ta ' I-artikolu 996 u lat-Tilolu

XXIII tat-Tieni Parti tal-Tieni Ktieb tal-Kodia Civili u la' 1-

.... om artikolu 239 Ial- Koditi la' Organinanjoni u Protedura Civili,

kif ulr.oll kull dispotinjoni ol'lra ta' dawk il-Kodiajiel jew la'

xi ligi ohra relaltiva ghar-reltistrazzjoni la' teni trasre rimenti,

la ' ipoleki speCiali u la' t.erti privileggi speqaJi fir-Registru

Pubbliku li ma taqbilx ma' dan I-AIt, ghandhom jieqfu mts-

sehb, kem m dwar an ijiet sitwati fxi area la' regislrazzjoni kif

ukoll dwar anijiel Ii jkunu gew registrati u kull referenza

ghar-Registru

Pubbliku

fl-imscmmija

maghmula

dispoiinjonijiet jew fxi li!· i ohra ghandha liftic hcm bliala

referenza ghar- Registru la' -Artijiet sakemm din lolqot I-art

imsemmija rdan I-artikolu.

(2) Tkun ir-respoosabbilta la n-nula r li jippubblika l-alt

Ii jara, permezz ta ' rit.erka offiCjali, ;ekk id-dispo:tizzjonijiel

tas-subartikolu ( I ) ta' dan I-artikolu japplikawx jew le u d ik iT-

rit.erka ghandha tigi me hmui.a ma' I-alt .

(3) Kull alt nutarili li ghandu jigi registrat fir-Registru

Pubbliku jew fir-Registru ta' l-Artijiet skond dan I-Atl jew

skond xi ligi ohra , ghand u jkol1u pjanta tas -sit li turi I-lokalita

e:iatta tal-pro prjelA li ghaliha I-att ikun jirreferi, kemm jekk

dik it-proprjet! Ikun farea ta' registrazzjoni sew jekk le,

flimkien ma' pjanta fuq skala kbira li Ikun luri I-es tensjoni

kollha ta' I-art u d-diversi partijict taghha li huma suggetti

gha! servitujie l , piiijiel u driltijiet;ew obbligaz:zjonijiet orua,

jew \i n- natura taghhom jew il-limitu la ' proprjela jew drill

jista' jkun differenti mil1-bqija ta' I-art; iida r-registratur

jista' fir-rieerka uffil!:jali msemmija fis-subartikolu (2) ta' dan

I-anikolu je:ienta nutar mid-dispaZizzjo nijiet ta ' dan is-

subartikolu.

k.

For section 11 of the principal Act there shall besubstituted the

following

t 1. ( I) The provisions of section 996 and of Title

XXIII of Part 11 of Book Second of the Civil Code and of

10 ~&ist .. . section 239 of the Code of Organization and Civil PJoa:dure ,

lion ."' .. . as well as any other provision of those Codes o r of any other

law re lative to the registration of certain transfers, of speciaJ

hypothees and of certain special privileges in the Public

Registry and which is inconsisten t with this Act , shall cease to

be ope rati ve both in respect o f land situated in any

registration area and also in respect of land that has been

registered and any reference made to the Public Registry in

the said provisions or in any other law shall be deemed to be a

refere nce to the Land Registry in so far as it concerns the land

referred to in this section .

(2) It shall be th e responsibility of the notary

publishing the deed to ascertain, through an offtcial search ,

whether the provisions of subsection ( I) hereof apply o r not

and such search shall be attached to the deed.

(3) Every notariaJ act registerable in the Public

Registry or in the Land Registry in acwrdance with this Act

o r any other law, must con tain a site plan showing th e exact

location of the property to which the deed refers, whether

such property is in a registration area or not. together with a

large scale plan showing the full extent of the land and the

various parts th ereof which are subject to easements ,

servitudes . burthens and other rights or obligations. o r of

which the nature of o r extent of the ownership o r right may be

different from the rest o f the land; provided that the Registrar

may in the official search referred to in subsection (2) exempt

a notary from the provisions of this subsection . n .

Section 12 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows:·

(a)

in subsection ( I) thereof

(i) in paragraph (a) the reof, forthe words "declaratory

effect as to th e ownership o f, o r any real right over. immovable

property. and every contract of antichresis;" there shall be

substitUled the words Mdeclaratory effect as to the ownership

of, or any real right over , immovable property (including a

deed made (or the purpose of the Duty on Docume nts and

Transfers Act , 1993, but ell:cluding any other deed of

inventory) , and every contract of antichresis;" ;

(ii) in paragraph (c) the reof, for the words " by judicial

sale," the re shall be substituted the wo rds " by judicial sale,

and every redemption of groundrent effected in accordance

with sectio n ISOI of th e Civil Code,";

(iii) lorthe words "in thecontfact, judge ment o r judiciaJ

sale" there shall be substituted the words "in the contract ,

judgement, judicial sale o r in the schedul e of red emption"

,"d

(iv) for the words " by any ron tract, judgement, judicial

sale or hypothee as aforesaid, is registered in the name of the

person entitled thereto and an appropriate entry is made in the

register of the manner (if a ny) in which such land is affected."

there shall be substituted the words "by any rontract ,

judgement, judicial sale, redemption or hypothe<: as aforesaid,

is registered in the day-book in the manner prescribed."

(b) in subsection (2) thereof, for the words "contract ,

judgement or judicial sale" there shall be substituted the words

"rontraet , judge ment, judicial sale or redemption" : and

(c) immediately after subsection (2) thereof there shaH be

added the fo Uowing subsection

"(3) Where any land is subject to the provisio ns of

paragraph (b) or (c) of subsectio n (I) of this section, it shall be

the duty of the party requesting the registration in the Public

Registry or the Land Registry as the case may be, of the

judge ment , conveyance or redemption , to fil e a note in the

registry of Ihe rourt together with the site plan and large scale

plan referred to in subsection (3) of sectioo 11 o ltbis Act, after

such site plan and such large scale plan have been approyed by

the rourt emanating the judgeme nt o r under whose authority

the sale or redemption has been made, in the case of a

judge ment such approval shall be rontained in the judgeme nt

itse lf. The rourt shall before granti ng such approval order the

party requesting it to carry oul an official search ascertain ing

whe lher the land falls within a registration area and the state o f

the register with respect thereto .".

Section 13 of th e principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) in subsectio n ( I) thereofforthe words " eighteen working

days" the re shall be substituted the words " filteen days·'

(b) in the proviso 10 subsection (2) thereof for th e words "an

advocate" th ere shall be substituted th e words "a notary o r an

advocate" : and

(c) in subsection (3) thereof, for the WOfds "applicatkm

Iherefor may be made," there shall be substituted the words

~ apptication the rd or shall be made," and immediately after the

words "that the adj udication is final ." there shall be added the

words "The court shall in any such judge ment appoint a cura tor so

that in tbe ab$enoeof registration by whom such registration is to be

made. such reptration is to be made by the said curator at the

expense of the person who should have made such registration ....

For subsectio n ( I) of section 14 o f the principal Act . there shall

be substituted the following;

..( I) On the opening of the lun=ession of any person . tbe title

10 land comprised in the transmisson and situated in any

registration arca shall, unless it is already 10 registrablc in virtue of

scaion 12 of this Act . be registered in the name of the persons in

whose ravoursuc:h land may have passed. on an applica tion made in

the prescribed manner, and any disposal or partition of such land or

any dealing therewi th shall not be e ntered into before the title

thereto has been registered, an d in the case of a declaration o f the

opening of a succession in virtue of section 536 of the Code of

O rganizatio n and Ciyil Procedure , the Court sball order the

applicant to make such registratio n within fifteen days horn the

declaration , and appoint a curator. so that in the absence of such

registra tion by the applicant, such registration shall be made by the

curator 10 appointed at the expe nse of the applica nt ....

Sectio n 15 ofthe principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) in paragraph (c) of subsedion (2) thereof, for the words

~IO any type of title or right in o r oye r the property" there shall be

substituted the words " to the nature of the right in o r oyer the

land '" ,

(b)

in subsection (5) thereof for the words "established in

~on 58~ to the words " the offence is committed" there shall be

substituted the words "established under subsection (6) of this

soction"; and

(c) immediately afte r subsectio n (5 ) thereof there shall be

added the following subsections

"(6) The Minister may in any order made in virtue of

subsection ( I) of this section es tablish the pe nalties to which a

person gui lty of an o ffence in accordance with subsection (5)

hereof in relation to such orde r shall be liable ; such penalty

shall not be more seyere than those established in section S8 0f

this Act .

(7) The provisio ns of this section shall be deemed to

halle been complied with if th e application is submitted by any

interested party.".

Section 16 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) in subsection (5) thereof, for the words " keep a roll or'

there shall be substituted the wo rds "keep a roll of, or otherwise

enter in the register,";

(b) in subsection (6) thereof, for the words Any person in

M

whose favour" there shall be substituted the words 11Ie Minister

may in any such order provide that any person in whose favour",

and for the words " eighteen days" there shaJl be substituted the

words "fifteen days", and for the words kin the roll referred to in

subsection (5) of this section," there shall be substituted the words

"in the manner provided in subsection (5) of this section."; and

(c) for subsections (7) and (8) thereof there shall be

substituted the following subsection

"(7) The provisions of subsections (5) , (6) and (7) of

section 15 of this Act, shall mutDIis mulQ/ldis apply to an order

made by the Minister under this section.".

Immediately after section 16 of the principal Act there shall

be added the following new section

( I) Where land or a share in such land, o r any

rights in or over it are registerable or declarable in virtue of

the provisions ofseaion 15 or 160fthis Act, and the owner or

presumed owner is unabl e or unwilling to apply for its

registration within the time prexribed, the registrar shall ,

witho ut prejudice to any liability incumbent on any perlOn

under the said sections, register such land or make the

appropriate declaration o n behalf of unknown owners and

such land shall be administered by the Government on behalf

of such unknown owners. The Commissioner o f Land shall

each year publish a list of such property in the Gazette.

(2) Where land is registered or declared on behalf

o f unknown owners by the registrar, he shall also register any

charges, cautions, servitudes or other overriding interests, or

any oth er right registerable in accordance with this Act as

may affect such land and of which he may be aware.

(3) The provisions o f section 23 of this Act shall

apply to any registration or declaration made in virtue of

subsections (1) and (2) of this section .

(4) Upon the lapse o f thirty years, unless the

registration shall have been successfully challenged in terms

of subsection (3) of this section , such land shall be registered

with guaranteed title in favour of and in the name of the

Government of Malta, free and unencumbered except for

such charges, cautions, servitude or other overriding interests

or other rights that were duly registered in accordance with

subsection (2) of this section

Provided that if the charge , caution, servitude,

other overriding interest or any othcr registerable right is in

favour of la nd which is itself registe red on behalf of unk nown

owners, but with reference to such land, the period of thirty

years mentioned in Ihis subsection has not yet elapsed, then

the servienl land shall be registered IS subject to such charge,

cl ution , se rvitude, other overriding in terest or other ntht,

which shall be extinguished only when th e period of thirty

years IS established in this subsection e1lpses also in respect

of the dominant land .

(5) Rights registered on behalf of unkoown

owners shall in like manner pass in favour oflhe Government

upon the lapse of thirty)'Un from their declaration,~ .

Section 19 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) the present provision shall be renumbered as subsectio n

(t) tbereof;

(b) in subsection ( I) thereof as renumbered, the words from

-j and if the Registrar is o f opinion" to the words "such further o r

other evidence is produced" shall be de leted; and

(c) immediately after subsection (1) thereof as renumbered ,

there shall be added the following subsection

-(2) Where an applica tion for registration is

incompatible with a titl e which is already registered in the

registry in such manne r that the registra tion can not be

effected , the applicant may lodge a caution and the provisions

of Pan V of this Act shall apply thereto, unless the land is

registered with a guaranteed title, in which case the applicant

may only seek the rectirlClltion of the registe r ....

14. For section 21 of the principal Act, there shall be substituted

the following

L-anikolu 24 la' I· An printipali ghandu jig; emendat kif gej

(a)

in-nols m-martini lieghu gbandha tip sostitwila b'dan li

gej; ~ Registrazzjoni hi kwalifika . ";

(b) fis-subanikolu (I) tieghu, il-kliem "jkun mitlub tilolu

assolUl, u" ghandhom jill'lassru u minflok il-kliem minn ~ fir­

registru ;" sal·kliem ~ Iitolu kwalifikal . H ghandhom jidhlu I·kliem

~ fir-repstru , H; u

(t) fis-suban ikolu (2) tieghu minflo k i1-klie m Hb'litolu

kwalifikal H ghandhom jidhlu I· kliem "b'titolu ikkwalifikat skond

l-anikolu H, u minflok il-kliem minn "b'tilolu assolut" sal· kliem

"b'litolu kwalifikat" ghand hom jidhlu I-kliem - b'tilo lu, jew titolu

garanlit, skond il· ka1, kemm·i\ darba reg;slraxzjoni bhal dik H.

L-artikolu 26 ta' I-An prin~ipali ghand u jigi emendatltif gej

(a) fis-subartikol u (1) tiegbu minflok iI-kliem "jew xi pani

minnha bl-istess mod u safejn kien jista' daqslikieku I-art ma kenitx

registrata." ghandhom jidhlu I-kliem "jew xi parti minnha, u fuq

trasferiment bhaI dak ghandha ssir applikanjoni fi tmien hmistax-

il gu m ata mid-data la' I-an tal-trasfe rime nt . u n-n ular li

jippubblika I-at! ghandu jaghme l fih rifere nza ghan-numru tae-

t:ertifikal lat· tilolu li bih I-art lrasferita tkun registrata; u mela

nutar jo nqos li jaghmel rifere nza bhal dik , ikun dovut minghand

da k in-nular drill tejjed ghar. registrazzjoni ta' trasferiment blial

da k kif jista' jkun preskritt_"; u

(b)

minflo k is-subartikolu (2) tieghu ghandujidhol dan li gej

" (2) It-trasferiment ta' jeddijiet regislrati fuq I-an jew

parti minnha ghandu jigi kompl etat mir-registratur billi

jniZ:tel, fiC-tertifikat, liIl-ak kwirent bhala I-proprjetarju tal-

jeddijiellrasferiti fuq talba li ssir bis-sahha tas-subarti kol u ( I)

ta' dan I-anikolu ; u meta pani biss la ' l-art tkun lrasferita, din

gha ndha tilnitiel ukoll , u ghandhom jinhargu t:e rtifikati

separati li juru kif ikun il.pussess tal' par1ijiet differenti: u d-

dispoiizzjonijiet tas-su baniko lu (3) ta' I-art ikol u 21 ghand hom

japplikaw m"tons mulIJlldis ghar' registrazzjoni ta' dawk it-

trasferimenti_",

L-artik olu 27 ta' I-All prinOpali ghandu jigi emendat kif gej

(a) fis-subartikolu ( 1) tieghu minflok il-kliem "tito lu

assolut" ghand hom jidhlu I-kliem - tilo lu garant it" ; u

(b)

fis-s ubartiko lu (2) tiegliu

(i) minflok il-kliem " b'titolu kwalifikat" gha ndhom

jidhlu I-kliem " b'titolu garantit ikkwalifik at nond I-artikolu

24 ta' dan I-All" , u

(u) minflok il-kliem " registrata b'titolu assol ut"

ghandhom jidhlu I-kliem " registrata b 'titol u garantit"; u

(c)

fis-subanikol u (3) tieghu

(i) minflok il-kliem "b'titolu ta' pussess" ghandhom

jidhlu I· klie m "b'titolu li ma jkunx tilOlu garanli''';

(ii) minflok il-klie m " registrata b' tilol u assolut."

ghandhom jidhlu I-kliem " registrata b' titolu garanl!t:";

(iiO minnufih fit-tarf tieghu ghand u jidhol il.proviso li

gej

" IUla meta art kie net registrata b'titolu , li ma jkunx titolu

ga rantit , ikkwalifikat skond l-artiko lu 24 la' dan I·An , din id-

dispoiizzjoni ma taffettwaxjew ma tippregudikax. it. twettiq ta'

xi jedd jew interess li mir-regislru jkunjidhe r li qieghed jithalla

bam." ,

20, Minnufih wara I-artikolu 28 la ' l-A II prinCipal i gllandu jidllol

I-artikolu gdid li gej

28A . (1)

Art sitwata rarea la' regislrazzjoni iida I;

ma tkunx giel regislrala, lisla', bla hsara ghad-

dispoi:izzjonijiel li Aejjin la' dan l-artikolu, liii ipotekat a bi

ftehim , bis-sallha ta l-ligi jew la' se ntenu sa I-istess limitu u bl-

istcss mod daqslikieku dik I-art kienet s iet regislrala.

(2) lpote ka registrata skond is-subartikolu (1) ta'

dan I-artikolu glIandha tkun suggetta ghall-kond izzjoni li fid-

data ta' l-applikazzjo ni gI'Iar-registrazzjoni taghha, id-debitu r

kien is-sid ta ' I-art suggetta ghal dik l-ipoteka u li bJ-ebda mod

ma kien inabilitat milli jipoteka I-a rt , u tolqot I-art li tkun

suggetta gI'Ia liha biu sal-limitu li d-debit ur ikun is-sid ta' d ik 1-

art Jew ikollu inte ress fuqha .

(3) Bla

hsa ra

gI'Iad-dispoZizzjonijiel

tas-

subarlikolu (2) la' dan I-artikolu, ipoteka registrata skond is-

suba rt ikolu (1) ta ' da n I-artikolu ghand ha tolqot kull persuna

li takkwi sla I-art sa I-istess limilu u bl-isless mod daqslikieku

d ik I-art kiene t registra ta u dik I-ipote ka kienel ipoteka dwar

dik I-art registrata ,

(4)

Me ta r-registratur jirtievi applikazzjoni gllar-

registrazzjo ni ta' I-art suggetta ghll ll-ipoteka registrata skond

is-subart ikolu ( 1) la' dan I-artikol u , huwa ghandu , jekk il-

persuna Ii ta ppHka ghar-registrazzjoni tkun id-debitu r

imsemmi n-ipoteka Je w it-tilo lu jkun gej minn dllk id-debitur

li kien is-sid la ' dik I-art u sal-limitu Ii ki en hekk sid ,jirregistra

I-ipole ka bhala ipole ka fuq it-ti tolu ghall-arl hekk regi strata.

xi persuna

ipotc ka j

dan I-Att

registrata

japplikaw glial persuna

(1) O n the applica tion for first registrat ion of

land , charge or ot her registe rable right , wh ateve r the title

under which such land, charge o r nght has passed to the

person applying for registration , the Registrar shall issue to

that effect a certificate for the tille 10 that land . charge o r

o ther registerable right . according to the title under which the

land , charge or right has passed to Ihat person,

(2) Where land is according to any other law 10 be

registered with a guaranteed title, o r where land is to be

registered in favour of the Gove rnment of Malta, or where

registration is sought pursuant to a tra nsfer by the

Government of Malta, itshall he registered wit h a gua ranteed

title.

(3) Where land is registered , it shall be deemed to

have been so registered witb effect from the date on wbich the

applicatio n for registration bas been entered in the day-

book.".

15. In section 22 o r the principal Act, for the words " aJl other

rights and interests whatsoever." there shall be substituted the words

"all other rights and interests whatsoever

Provided tbat if the Minister, in virtue of the provisions o f

section 16 of this Act, directs that any or all of sucb rights or overriding

interests shall be registered , the provisions of Ibis section shall not apply

with regard to those rights or interests whicb bave to be registered but

are not so registered ....

16. Section 2Jofthe principal Act shall be amended as follows:.

(a) the present provision shall be renumbered as subsection

(I) thereof;

(b) in the new subsection (1), the word "only" shall be

deleted; and

(c) immediately afte r subsection (1) there shall be added the

following new subsection

"(2) Without prejudice to sections 16A and 46 of this

Act, the registrar shall , un less an application for the

interruption o f prescription or other cautio n having the same

effect has been lodged , convert the title into a guaranteed title

o n the lapse of ten years from first registration ....

Section 24 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows:·

17. (a) the ma rgi nal note thereof shalJ be substituted by the

fo llowin g: " Registration with a qua lification. ";

(b) in subsectio n ( I) the reof, the words " an absolute title is

required, and" shall be deleted and for the words from " in the

register ;" to the words "a qualified title." there shall be substituted

the words "in the register."; and

(c) in subsectio n (2) thereof for the wo rds "with a qualified

title" there shall be substituted the words "witb a title qualified in

tenns of this section", and for the words from "with an absolute

title" to the words "a qualified title" there shall be substituted the

words "with a title, o r a guaranteed title, as the case may be, save

that such registration".

18. Section Uorthe principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) in subsection (1) thereof, for the wo rds "or any pan

thereorin the same man ner and to the sameeJ[tent as if the land had

no t been registered." there shall be substituted the words "or any

part thereof, and upon such transfer an application shall be

submitted within fifteen days from the date of deed of transfer , the

notary publishing the deed shall make a reference therein to the

certificate of tit1e number whereby the transferred land is

regiSlered; and where a notary fails to make such refe rence. an

extra fee for the registration of such transfer as may be prescribed.

shall be due by such notary."; and

(b) for subsection (2) thereof, there shall be substituted the

following

"(2) Tbe transfer of registered rights over the land or

part thereof shall be comple ted by the registra r entering, on

the certificate, the transferee as the proprietot o f the rights

transfe rred on application made in virtue of subsection (I ) of

this section; and where part only of the land is transferred , this

shall also be noted. and separate certificates showing the

differe nt parts owned shall be issued: and the provisions of

subsection (3) of section 21 shallapp!y mUlluis mUfandis to the

registration o f such lransfen." .

Section 27 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows

19. (a) in subsection (I) thereo ffo rthe words "an absolute title"

there shall be substituted the words "a guaranteed title";

in subsection (2) thereof

(b)

(i) fo r the wor.d s " registered with a lj.ualified title",

there shall be substituted the words " reJlStered with a

guaranteed title qualified in terms o f section 24 of this Act";

,od

(ii) for Ihe words " registered with an absolute title",

there shall be substituted the wo rds " registered with a

guaranteed till e"; and

in subsection (3) thereof

(c)

(i) for the wo rds "with a possesory title" there shall be

subst ituted the wo rds "with a title which is not a guaranteed

ti tle";

(0) for the words "registered with an absol ute title:',

there shall be substit uted the words " registered with a

guaranteed title:"; and

(Hi) immediately at the end th ereof, there shall be

added the following pro viso

" Provided Ihat where the land was registered with a title,

which is not a guaranteed title , qualified in terms of section 24

o f this Act, such di sposi tions shall not affect or prejudi~ the

e nforcement of any righ t or interest appearing in the register

to be excepted ....

1O. Immediate!y after section 28 of the princi pal Act there shaU

be added the foUowiDg new section:·

(1) Land si tuate in a registration are a, but

:'::~i" I which has not been registe red , may . subject to the fo llowing

rqislrot ion provisions of th is section , be charged by agreeme nt, by

I",~ but not operation of law or by judgement to the same extent and in

"'lIS t • red . the manner as if that land had been regi stered.

(2) A charge registe red in accordance with

subsection (I) of this section shall be subject to the condition

that on the date o f the application for its registration , the

debtor was an owner of the land subj ect to such charge and

was not in any way incapacitated from charging th e land , and

shall affect the land subject to it only to the extent tha t the

debtor is the owne r of. o r has an interest in, such land .

(3) Subj ect to the provisions of subsection (2) of

th is section , a charge registe red in accordance with subsection

( I) oftbis section shall affect any person acquiring the land to

the same extent and in the same manner as if such land had

bee n registered and that charge had bee n a charge in respect

of that registered land.

(4) When the registrar receives an app lication

for th e registration o f the land subject to the cha rge registe red

in accordance with 5ubsection (1) of th is section, he shall , if

the person applying for the: registration is the debto r referred

to in the cha rge or derives title from such a debtor who was

the owne r of such land and to the exte nt of such owne rship ,

re gister the cha rge as a charge on the title to the land so

registered.

(5) Without prejudice to the foregoing

provisions of this sectio n, a charge registered in accordance

with subsection ( I) o f this section shall have the: same effect as

a caution lodged with the registrar to the effect that the land

subject to the cha rge shall not be registe red for the fi rst time

in favour of any person unlit notice has been served upon the

proprietor of the cha rge; and subsecti on (3) of section 35 and

sectio n 37 of this Act shall apply to a proprietor of a charge

registered in accordance with subsection (1) o f this section as

they apply to a cautioner .".

21. For section 30 of the principal Act there shall be substit uted

the following

A charge shall not affect a pcrson acqu iring any

registered land o r right thereon unless the charge is protected

by an enlry on the regi ster. Whe re such entry is made it shall

be deemed 10 have been made on the date on which the

application thefeior has bee n enlcred in the day-book ....

22. In section 31 of the principal Act {or the words ~ in which they

are entered on the register, and not according to the order in which they

are created," the re shall be substit uted the words "of the progressive

number relative thereto in the day-book. ",

Section 32 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows :-

23. (a) in subsection ( I) thereof, for the words " the Public

Registry Act." there shall be substituted the wo rds " the Public

Registry Act , and the prOvisions of section 12 of this Act shall also

apply 10 such transfers. ",

(b) in subsection (2) thereof for the words "but the

transferor shaU be deemed to remain proprietor of the charge

until the name of the transferee is entered on the registe r in respect

thereof.M there shall be substituted the words "and the Registrar

shall issue a charge certificate specifying th e details rela tive to such

charge in the prescribed manner, and he shall also annotate the

charge number on the ce rtificate of title when thi s is compl.-:ted.";

.od

(c) immediately afler subsection (2) thereof, there shall be

added the following subsection

"(3)

The provIsIons of section 26 of this Act shall ,

mllta/is mUlUlldis , apply to transfen o f charges unde r this

section .

M .

24. Section 33 of the principal Act shall be amended as follows

(a) the present provision shall be renumbered as subsection

(l);and

(b) immediately after subsection (1) thereof as renumbered

there shall be added the following subsection

"(2) C harges shall be extinguished in the same manner

as is provided in the Civil Code for the ex ti nct ion o f hypothecs

and privileges.".

25, For subsection (3) o f section 34 of lhe principal Act there shall

be substituted th e following ;·

'"(3) The registration of a successor in place of the proprietor

under th is section may be qualified in the same manne r as is

provided in section 24 o f thi s Act even if th e land is regisle red

withoul such qualification .

M.

Sectio n 35 of the principal Act shall be ame nded as follows:·

26. (a) in subsection (I) thereot tor the words " ill lalld Ilot

registered as e nt itles him to object " there shall be substituted the

words "in land which is DOt already registered o r in respect of which

no applica tion for fi rst registra tion has yet been made, as entitles

him to object ~;

(b) the present subsections (2) and (3) shall be renumbered

(3) and (4) respectively; and

(c) immediately after subsection (I) thereof there sha ll be

added the follOwing subsection

~(2)

Notwithstanding Iny other law, any judicial act

interrupting prescription, as well as any o ther right relating to

a prohibition oftransferofproperty by a deed inu r IIillOl, shall

be of DO effect with regard to land in a registration area unless

it is registered as a caution at the Land Registry in the pre-

scribed manner. " .

27. Subsection ( I) of section 36 of the principal Act shall be

amended as follows

(a) in paragraph (e) the reof, for the words "any such land,"

there shall be substituted the words Many such land; or" ; and

(b) immediately after paragraph (e) thereof, the re shall be

added th e following paragraph

" (t)

having an interest or right as is referred to in

subsection (2) of se<:tion 35 of th is Act, ...

23. Immediately after subsection (4) of se<:tion 37 of the principal

Act . tnere shaH be added the following new subsections

" (5) A person shall nol bedeemed to have registered a cautio n

without reasonable cause for the pulposes ot subsection (3) of this

section, in ~ far as and to the ell te nt that . in the plans10dged with

the caution. in good faith and without neglige nce, he may havc

included land which ought not to have bee n so included.

(6) The lodgement of a caution is not an application tor th e

registration of the claim o r titl e in protection of which the cautio n is

lodged and shall not eJlempt the person lodging the cautio n trom

the filing of the relevant applications. if any. for the registration ot

any title or claim ....

29. Parts VA and VI of the principal Act shall be deleted.

30. Subsection (I) of se<:tion 43 of the principal Act shall be .-.cl;""

amended as follows

(a) for paragraph (e) th ereof there shall be substit uted the

following

~(e )

in th e case of any title even if qualified in terms of

section 24 of this Act , all rights, in te rests and powers excepted

(rom the effect of registration;" and

(b) immediately after paragrap h (h) the reof th ere shall be

added the foll owing paragraph

"(hh) special privi1ege~ and. special . hypot~ecs

encumbering the land and registered In the Pubhc Registry

before the land encumbered became comprised in a

registration area;".

In section 45 C'f the principal Act for the words " with an

absolute titlc" there shall be substituted the words "with a guaranteed

title".

In subsectio n (2) of section 46 of the principal Act . for the

words -with absolute , qualified or possessory title", there shall be

substit uted the words " with a guaranteed or other title. incl uding any

qua lifica tion··.

For subsection ( I) of section 49 0 fth c prinCipal Act there shall

be substit uted the following:.

'·( 1) (3) Upon the lapse of the time referred 10 in

subsection (2) of section 23 oflhis Act. Ihe regist rar shall , subj ec t 10

the following subsectio n of th is seclion after giving sueh notice , if

any, as may be prescribed , register such title as a gua ranteed titl e

whether the proprietor consents to sueh regIstration o r not .

(b) Wh ere the registrar is salisfied that either as a result

of the additional evidence produced to him or otherwise in his

possession. or as a result of lime . or 1'15 a result of both. he may,

subject to the following provisions of th is section and a ny olhe r

provision of this Act. after giving such notices. if any. as may be

prescribed. re move any qualification entered in th e register in

terms of this Act. whether th e prop rie to r conse m s to such removal

or lIot:· .

In subsection (7) of section 51 of the pri nd pal Act, fo r the

words Mthe land ce rt ificate and any charge certificate~ the re shall be

substituted the words " any ce rtificate or documen t".

In subsection (1) of section 57 o f the principal Act , for the

words Mo r any land or charge certificate M there shall be substitut ed the

words "or any othe r docume nt held at or issued by the Land Registry".

In subsection (2) of section S9 of the principal Act

(a) for paragraph (d) thereof there shall be substituted the

following

"(d) empowering the registrar to order or conduct the

survey of any land in connection with its registration under this

Act ·"·

• •

(b) for paragraph (i) thereof there shall be substit uted the

following

" (i) for prescribing the way any notices required by this

Act, are to be given;"; and

(c) for paragraph (p) thereof, there shall be substituted the

following

"(p) provide for any matter ancillary to or

conscquentialto the computerisation o f the Land Registry;H.

Part VA and the corresponding entry a nd Pan VI and the "'",~ndmen' 0(

corresponding entry in the" Arrangement of the Act" in the principal Act o f ...... of ,he

shall be deleted.

(I) O n the comi ng into force of section 29 of this Act, no

appl kations fo r a cauti ona ry charge shall be entertained, and any

ca uti onary charge entered in the La nd Regi stry prior to th e coming inlO

force of the said sectio n shall be deemed to be a charge ente red in

accordance with section 28A as introduced by section 20 of th is Act .

(2) All Land and Charge Certifica tes iss ued prior 10 th e

comi ng inlO force of section 29 o f th is Act sha ll be admissable in

evidence only as proof o f their conte nts as o n their dale of issue.

(3) Where prior to the co ming into force of section 9 of this

Act , on Ihe opening of succession of any person , the titl e to the land

comprised in the transmission and si tuated in any registra tion area has

not bee n registered in the nameoft he persons in whose favour such land

may have passed, it shall be deemed that th e provisions of section 14 o f

the principal Act , as in force priOTlo Ihecoming into force of section 9 of

this Act , did not apply to any such land

Provided thalthe Land Registrar may, afte r giving such notice

as he may deem fit , register such land in the name of the persons in

whose favour such land may have passed o r in the name of their

successors in titl e, in accordance with the provisiOns o f the pri ncipal Act

as amended by this Act . and the provisions of the pri ncipal Act

empowering the said registrar to require any person 10 produce any

document or infonnatio n shall apply also for th e purposes of this

proviso.

(4) The ti tles 10 the land registe red in virtue of Legal Notice

N umbe r 37 of 1983 , and listed in the fo llowing su\)se{:tio n of Ihis sectio n

shall be deemed 10 have been duly and regularly registered in

accordance with the provisions o f the principal Act and any dea ling with

such land afle r the coming into force of this subsectio n shall be

registe rable in the Land Registry as if such land were situated in a

reg~tration area

Provided th at any transfer 01 charge in relation to such land

registered in the Public Registry afte r the issue of the said Legal Notice

and before the coming into fo rce orlhis subsection shall be deemed to be

an overriding interest and the provisions of section 43 of the principal

Act slw.ll apply thereto.

(5) The titl es to the land 10 which subsection (4) hereof

applies are the following

Certificates of Ti tle numbers 547200001, 5412O)(1()2,

S46900003, 5673(0)()8, and from 547400004 10 547400007 (both

numbers inclusive).

(6) Where before the coming inlo fo rce o f this Act , a

q ualified title has bee n issued by the registrar in accordance with the

provisions of the principal Act as in force prio r to the comi ng inlO force

of this Act , it shall be deemed to be a titl e registered in accordance with

the corresponding provisions of the principal Act as ame nded by the

provisions of Ihis Act, qualified in accordance with sectio n 24 of th e

principal Act as ame nded by the provisions of this Act.

(7)

Any absolute title o r possessory title registe red befo re

the comi ng into force of thi s Act shall be deemed to be agua ranteed title

and a title which is not a guaranteed title respectively and any reference

in any other law to registration with a possessory title and registration

with an absolute title shall be construed as a reference to a registration

with a title which is nOI a guaranteed ti tle and registration with a

guaranteed utk , respectively.

Passed by Ihe H o use of Represe ntatives al Silting No. 407 of the 22nd March,

1995. L A WRENCE G ONZI

Speaker

RICHA RD J. CA UClII

Clerk 10 Ihe House of Represenlatillt$

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