Land Adjudication Unit
About Us
What does the Land Adjudication Unit do?
The Land Adjudication Unit (LAU) adjudicates, i.e., investigates, determines and declares title to land and rights and interests in land in registration districts. In the performance of this function, the LAU will invite the public to submit claims to land and other rights and interests in land and will investigate those claims. Upon completion of its investigation the LAU produces an Adjudication Record which will include information such as the name(s) of declared owner(s), parcel identification number, lot number (if any), area and location of the parcel and any rights, interests and restrictions affecting the parcel. In the course of investigating, Registration Officers from the LAU will accompany surveyors from the Lands and Surveys Department (LSD) to obtain information from owners and other interested parties during a Demarcation Exercise that will be conducted by the LSD.
Get In Touch With Us
Land Adjudication Unit
4th Floor, National Housing Corporation Building, “The Garden”, Country Road, St. Michael
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
More About What We Do
When the Adjudication Record is completed owners and other interested parties will be invited to inspect the Adjudication Record. Inspection of the Adjudication Record is also permitted after publication of the names of the owners in the Official Gazette and daily newspapers.
The period for inspection after publication is 60 days and at the end of this period registration of the parcel takes effect, provided no objections are submitted within the 60-day period.
At the expiration of 60 days after publication and provided no objections are received within that period, the names of the owners with the effective date of registration are submitted to the Registrar of Titles (ROT) to be entered in the register. Subsequently, the ROT will prepare and issue a Certificate of Title.
In adjudicating title to land the Commissioner of Titles also has power to adjudicate disputes respecting the ownership, interest in or the boundaries of any land within a Registration District and determine applications regarding an act or decision of the Chief Surveyor done or made pursuant to his powers under the Act and regarding an entry in the Adjudication Record.
The functions of the LAU are governed by the Land (Adjudication of Rights and Interests) Act, Chapter 228A (the Act) of the Laws of Barbados. The Act came into force in 1988 and provided for the appointment of Commissioners of Titles and Registration Officers for carrying out the purposes of the Act.
The Land (Adjudication of Rights and Interests) Regulations, 1988 also apply to the functions of the LAU.
In November 2021 an order was made by the Minister responsible for Lands declaring a new registration district. This order is the Land (Adjudication of Rights and Interests) (Declaration of Registration District) Order, 2021.
Meet the LAU Team
The LAU is staffed by Commissioners of Titles, a Chief Registration Officer,
Registration Officers,
Senior Legal Assistants, Legal Assistants and Steno/Typists.
Commissioner of Titles
Chief Registration Officer
The LAU falls under the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Maintenance.
