Law of Property Act 1922

Office copies and searches.

20 (1) The original or counterpart of any lease or underlease or assignment to which this Part of this Act applies may be deposited at the Central Office of the Supreme Court.

(2) A separate file of instruments so deposited shall be kept, and any person who furnishes the prescribed evidence to show that he has a sufficient interest in the lease or underlease or reversion expectant thereon may search that file and inspect the lease or underlease or counterpart or assignment, and an office copy thereof shall be delivered to him at his request.

(3) A copy of an instrument so deposited, with any plan or endorsements thereon, may be presented at any time at the Central Office, and, if found correct, may be stamped as an office copy, and when so stamped shall become and be an office copy.

(4) An office copy of the instrument so deposited with the plan and endorsements (if any) shall without further proof be sufficient evidence of the contents of the instrument, plan, and endorsements (if any), and of the deposit thereof at the Central Office.

(5) Where an instrument so deposited has perished or become undecipherable, an office copy thereof may be similarly deposited, and office copies thereof may be issued in -lieu of office copies of the original, and the provisions of this section shall apply thereto as if office copies so issued were office copies of the original instrument.

(6) General rules may be made for the purposes of this section prescribing the evidence to be furnished before a search is authorised, regulating the practice of the Central Office, and prescribing, with the concurrence of the Treasury, the fees to be taken therein.