If you are selling a property that has a Form LL restriction on the title register, you need a Certificate of Compliance from an independent, SRA-regulated solicitor before the sale can be registered at Land Registry. The restriction does not prevent the sale — it requires one additional document.
It is the seller — you as the registered owner — who must obtain the Certificate of Compliance. Your sale solicitor cannot issue it (they are acting on the transaction) and the buyer's solicitor cannot issue it (they are acting for the buyer). It must come from a completely independent specialist firm with no connection to the transaction.
The certificate should be obtained before exchange of contracts wherever possible. If the certificate is not in place at exchange, its absence could delay completion. Most buyers' solicitors will require confirmation that the certificate is in hand or will be obtained before they advise their client to exchange.
Do not leave it until the week before completion. The standard service takes 3–5 working days from the video call. The expedited service takes 48 hours.
If you are a buy to let landlord selling with a Form LL restriction, bear in mind that if the property is in joint names both owners must attend the same video call. This can occasionally require some coordination if the other owner is based overseas or has a busy schedule.
The buyer's solicitor will identify the Form LL restriction during their title investigation. They will raise a requisition requiring either:
Providing the certificate promptly keeps the transaction moving and avoids delays at exchange.
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