Unlocking sasines


The Unlocking Sasines project helps to indicate the likely ownership of areas not on the land register.

Indicative sasines is a way of showing indicative ownership and boundaries of Sasine titles.

Examination of sasine search sheets is still necessary to confirm ownership.

What is Unlocking Sasines

In many cases, land or property must change hands before RoS can move it from the sasines register to the land register. Lots of land and property that is still in sasines does not change hands very often. For example, large rural estates.

We used spatial data to help “unlock” the historic information in the sasine register. This allows us to visually represent the sasine register for the first time making it more helpful and accessible.

This helps us answer the question ‘Who owns Scotland?’ and provides many useful insights in working towards:

What it is

Indicative sasines is a:

  • way of showing indicative ownership and boundaries of sasines titles
  • visual representation of sasines registered titles
  • way of providing information to help in answering ‘who owns Scotland?’
  • first step to establishing ownership which is not yet shown on the land register

What it is not

Indicative sasines is not a:

  • property register
  • means to confirm ownership and boundaries with a hundred percent accuracy
  • comprehensive display of all sasines titles

Before using the indicative sasines layer

To confirm ownership using the indicative sasines layer, knowledge and interpretation of sasine search sheets is necessary. If you do not have this knowledge a search can be carried out by the Property Information Team for a fee.

Accessing the layer

The new indicative layer can be found alongside our other layers on ScotLIS business.

Confidence levels

A confidence level is a way of grading the polygons used, based on information we’ve examined.

The confidence levels range from giving a direct answer on ownership, to a first step or pointer towards establishing ownership in the sasine register.

There are three different confidence levels assigned to the polygons as noted by the distinct colours and description. The green polygons being the most confident, the next level of confidence being amber and lastly red.

Collaboration

This was all made possible by working in partnership with individuals, public bodies and local authorities who shared their data with us. From this starting point we cross referenced and validated the data provided with information we hold in the Sasine Register. This approach provided us with indicative ownership covering 35.4% of Scotland’s land mass.

For their contribution, special thanks go to:

  • North Ayrshire Council
  • Andy Wightman
  • Rural Payment and Inspections Division

Get in touch

If you would like further information, contact the team at customer.services@ros.gov.uk