Mines and Minerals Title Reservation Checker
Verify severed mineral rights in Land Registry Property Registers,UK Finance Handbook Section 5.14.2 lender rules,Star Energy v Bocardo [2010] subterranean trespass, and title indemnity solutions.
Mineral Reservation & Sub-Surface Diligence Engine
Found in Section A of official Land Registry title entries.
UK Finance Handbook requires full indemnity or compensation.
Deep drilling that penetrates severed mineral strata constitutes actionable trespass under Star Energy v Bocardo [2010].
Severed Mineral Strata (No Surface Entry Rights)
Conveyancer Compliance & Title Indemnity Blueprint
- 1Confirm that the deed includes a covenant for support or statutory compensation for any subsidence.
- 2Satisfies standard UK Finance Handbook requirements for all major high-street mortgage lenders.
Who Owns What? Statutory Mineral Vesting in the UK
| Subterranean Substance | Statutory Legal Owner | Governing Legislation | Landowner Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal & Mines of Coal | The Coal Authority | Coal Industry Act 1994 | Statutory compensation under 1991 Act for any structural subsidence |
| Petroleum, Oil & Natural Gas | The Crown | Petroleum Act 1998 / Infrastructure Act 2015 | Statutory deep right of exploitation below 300m without surface owner consent |
| Gold & Silver (Mines Royal) | The Crown | Royal Prerogative / Case of Mines (1568) | Always reserved to the Sovereign by constitutional law |
| Stone, Gravel, Clay, Sand | Freehold Owner (unless severed) | Common Law (Bocardo [2010]) | Vests in freehold proprietor unless expressly excepted on Title Register |
Auditing Environmental and Title Defect Hazards?
Screen against radon gas, coal mining subsidence, and restrictive covenants across our full statutory diligence suite.
Mines & Minerals Title Reservation FAQs
This standard entry in the Property Register (Section A) of an HM Land Registry title means that the freehold ownership extends only to the surface and upper strata of the land. The ownership of the sub-surface minerals (such as stone, gravel, clay, metallic ores, or coal) was severed in a historical conveyance (often by an enfranchising lord of the manor or railway company) and remains owned by a third party. The freehold proprietor does not own the subterranean mineral strata.
Mines, Minerals & Mining Guides
Official regulatory answers referencing Acts of Parliament, RICS guidance, and statutory planning orders.
How Do I Check if My Postcode is in a Radon Risk Zone in the UK?
To check if your UK postcode is in a radon risk zone, enter your postcode into the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) and BGS (British Geological Survey) Indicative Atlas of Radon or use our free UK Radon Gas Postcode Checker. The interactive map shows whether your 1km square has a 1% or greater probability of exceeding the UK Action Level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). If a postcode sits in a designated Radon Affected Area (such as parts of Devon, Cornwall, Derbyshire, or the Scottish Highlands), conveyancers and environmental searches will recommend ordering a 3-month physical detector test kit.
Where in the UK Has the Highest Radon Gas Levels?
The areas with the highest radon gas levels in the UK are South West England (Devon and Cornwall), the Peak District in Derbyshire, the Mendip Hills in Somerset, parts of Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire, upland Wales (Gwynedd and Powys), and the Scottish Highlands and Grampians. In parts of Cornwall and Dartmoor, over 30% of residential properties exceed the UK Action Level of 200 Bq/m³, driven by subterranean granite batholiths and uranium-rich limestone geology.
Should I Worry About Radon Gas When Buying a House in the UK?
No, you should not panic if a house you are buying is in a radon-affected area, but you must address it during conveyancing. Modern mortgage lenders do not refuse mortgages due to radon risk, because radon is easily remediated using inexpensive positive input ventilation (PIV) or sub-floor sumps costing between £800 and £2,000. When buying in a high-risk zone, your solicitor can insert a 'Radon Bond' into the contract—holding between £1,000 and £2,500 of the seller's proceeds in escrow for 3 to 6 months post-completion to pay for testing and any necessary mitigation equipment.
What Are the Health Risks and Symptoms of Radon Gas in UK Homes?
Radon gas causes no immediate or acute physical symptoms: it does not cause headaches, coughing, eye irritation, nausea, or fatigue. Because radon is completely odorless, colorless, and tasteless, high levels go entirely unnoticed without dedicated detectors. The sole health risk of radon is long-term radioactive damage to the respiratory system. Inhaling radon decay products (alpha radiation emitters) damages lung tissue DNA, making radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the UK after tobacco, responsible for approximately 1,100 lung cancer deaths annually. The risk is 25 times higher for cigarette smokers due to synergistic radiation-carcinogen interactions.
Can You Check Radon Gas Levels by Postcode for Free in the UK?
Yes, you can check whether your UK postcode is in a designated radon risk area 100% free of charge using the official UKHSA/BGS Indicative Atlas or our free UK Radon Gas Postcode Checker. Free online tools display the 1km statistical probability grid and Action Level thresholds. However, free tools only estimate the regional probability; discovering the actual indoor radon concentration of your specific house requires ordering a physical test kit containing two passive alpha-track detectors, which costs £50 to £60 including laboratory analysis.
What Are Safe Radon Gas Levels in UK Homes?
In the UK, radon gas is measured in Becquerels per cubic metre of air (Bq/m³). The national average radon concentration in UK homes is approximately 20 Bq/m³, which is completely safe. The UK Health Security Agency defines 100 Bq/m³ as the 'Target Level' (the ideal maximum for remediated homes and new builds) and 200 Bq/m³ as the statutory 'Action Level'. If an indoor physical test reveals concentrations exceeding 200 Bq/m³, the UKHSA strongly recommends installing remediation equipment to reduce the radioactive burden.