The first-of-its kind in Canada, Land Owner Transparency Register (LOTR) is a registry of information about individuals who are deemed to have an indirect interest in land (e.g. through corporations, trusts and partnerships) which will be housed in a searchable, public database.

The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) is responsible for developing and operating LOTR, as set out in the Land Owner Transparency Act (LOTA).

When will LOTA filing requirements be in effect?
Required filings to the Land Owner Transparency Registry (LOTR) will begin on November 30, 2020. Existing reporting bodies with an interest in land will need to file an initial transparency report by November 30, 2021.

Who can access the information in LOTR?
Beginning April 30, 2021, the public can search and obtain partial information about ownership interests in land. Some information such as birth dates and social insurance numbers will not be publicly accessible. Only those defined as a regulator, a taxing authority or a law enforcement entity may access complete information about reporting bodies and interest holders.

What is a reporting body?
A reporting body is a relevant corporation, a trustee of a relevant trust, or a partner of a relevant partnership that is required to file a transparency report under LOTA.

Who are interest holders?
LOTA defines interest holders as a beneficial owner of a relevant trust, a corporate interest holder of a relevant corporation, or a partnership interest holder of a relevant partnership.

Can I request that my information be omitted from LOTR?
An individual can make an application to the A statutory decision maker under LOTA and an employee of the LTSA, responsible for the general administration of LOTA and its regulations. Administrator that some or all of their information in LOTR be withheld from public search, if they believe it could threaten the safety or mental or physical health of themselves or a member of their household. All information in LOTR will remain searchable by law enforcement agencies, regulators, and tax authorities.

Will my birthdate and social insurance number be made public?
LOTR is subject to the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Birthdate, social insurance number, and other private information will not be visible in public searches.

What happens if I do not submit a transparency declaration or report?
According to LOTA, the A statutory decision maker under the Land Title Act, and an employee of the LTSA with a statutory responsibility under LOTA. Registrar must refuse any application to register an interest in land if it is not accompanied by a transparency declaration for each transferee and, if appropriate, transparency report(s). There are additional penalties related to non-compliance.

How will I know if my data is entered correctly into LOTR?
Reporting bodies must take reasonable steps to obtain the required information from relevant individuals. Reporting bodies are also responsible for notifying interest holders of the disclosed information.

What if my information in LOTR is incorrect or has changed?
Reporting bodies are responsible for ensuring their information and that of their interest holders is up to date and correct. If your LOTR information is incorrect or has changed, you must contact the reporting body and ask them to file a new transparency report to correct or update the relevant information. If the reporting body has not fulfilled your request within 3 months, you can then proceed to file an application to request a change or correction of your information.

Why was LOTA created?
The Province introduced a comprehensive plan in the 2018 budget to address broad concerns about housing afford-ability in BC. In its 30-point plan for housing affordability in BC (page 17), the government stated it is “taking action to end hidden ownership” in order to crack down on tax fraud and close loopholes. Since many parts of LOTA involve taxation matters, the Ministry of Finance is leading this initiative.

There are a number of words used in relation to the Land Owner Transparency Act, and the Land Owner Transparency Registry (LOTR) which are explained below:

Administrator
A statutory decision maker under LOTA and an employee of the LTSA, responsible for the general administration of LOTA and its regulations.

Interest Holder
LOTA defines interest holders as a beneficial owner of a relevant trust, a corporate interest holder of a relevant corporation, or a partnership interest holder of a relevant partnership.

Interest in Land
As defined in LOTA, this term refers to an estate in fee simple; a life estate in land; a right to occupy land under a lease that has a term of more than 10 years, or a right under an agreement for sale to occupy land, or require the transfer of an estate in fee simple.

Parcel Identifier (PID)
A number that uniquely identifies a parcel of land in the land title register of BC. Use ParcelMap BC or BC Assessment to search for a PID.

Transferee
An individual to whom an interest in land is transferred.

Transparency Declaration
A declaration that is filed by each transferee together with an application to register an interest in land, stating whether the transferee is a reporting body, and, if the transferee is a reporting body, whether the reporting body is a relevant corporation, a trustee or a relevant trust, or a partner of a relevant partnership.

Transparency Report
A report that is filed with a transparency declaration on an application to register an interest in land, if the transferee is a reporting body. The transparency report contains information about the reporting body and its interest holder(s). Transparency reports must also be filed independently of a transparency declaration any time there is a change to the reporting body or interest holder’s information, as well as during the transition period when all reporting bodies with a current interest in land will be required to file.

Registrar
A statutory decision maker under the Land Title Act, and an employee of the LTSA with a statutory responsibility under LOTA to refuse an application to register an interest in land if the transferee fails to submit a transparency declaration with the application and, in the event the transferee is a reporting body fails to submit a transparency report.

Reporting Body
A relevant corporation, a trustee of a relevant trust or a partner of a relevant partnership that is required to file a transparency report under LOTA.

Settlor
The entity that establishes a trust.

The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) is responsible for developing and operating LOTR. If you have questions for the LTSA, please contact us at lotr@ltsa.ca