A Lien Search is one of the most important steps in any real estate transaction, lending decision, or due diligence review. Hidden mortgages, builder's liens, judgements, and tax arrears can quietly attach themselves to a property's title, and they don't disappear just because the owner changes. Before you buy a home, lend money, accept a property as collateral, or close on a deal, a proper Lien Search protects your investment. LandTitleSearch.ca makes it easy to run lien searches on any property in Canada — Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and beyond.
A Lien Search is the process of reviewing the official Land Title or Land Registry record of a property to identify every legal claim registered against it. In Canada, liens and encumbrances are public information, registered with the provincial registry the moment they take effect.
A registered lien is a creditor's legal right to be paid out of the value of the property. If a lien isn't cleared before closing, it can transfer to the new owner — meaning a buyer could end up responsible for someone else's debt. That's why a Lien Search is non-negotiable before any property changes hands.
A complete Lien Search will typically uncover:
Mortgages and lines of credit registered against the property
Builder's liens (also called construction or mechanics' liens) filed by contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers for unpaid work
Judgements registered by creditors who have won a court order against the owner
Tax liens filed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), provincial tax authorities, or municipal governments for unpaid property taxes
Caveats, certificates of pending litigation, and writs of execution
Easements, rights-of-way, and restrictive covenants (non-financial encumbrances that still affect the property's use)
Strata or condominium charges for unpaid common property fees
You don't need a lawyer or a trip to the registry office to find out what's registered against a property. Our online platform pulls Lien Search results directly from each provincial Land Registry, so you receive verified, court-ready information in minutes.
To run a Lien Search, you'll usually need one of the following:
Civic Address The street address of the property is the simplest place to start for most residential lookups.
Legal Description or Parcel Identifier The legal description (Lot, Block, Plan, Township, Range) or the Parcel Identifier (PID, PIN, or Linc Number) issued by the province is the most accurate search method, especially for rural land or vacant lots.
Owner's Name A name-based search will return every parcel registered to an individual or company within the province — useful for asset searches, estate work, and corporate due diligence.
Title or Instrument Number If you have a title or instrument number from a previous transaction, we can pull the current encumbrance details directly.
Before any deal closes, every buyer in Canada should run a Lien Search. It's the only reliable way to make sure the title is clean and that you won't inherit somebody else's debt. Mortgages should be paid out, builder's liens cleared, and tax arrears settled before keys change hands.
Lenders, private mortgage providers, and anyone accepting real estate as security need to know exactly where they sit in the priority of registered claims. A Lien Search shows you who else has a registered interest in the property and how much it might be worth in a forced sale scenario.
If you're owed money for work performed or materials supplied, a Lien Search lets you confirm whether a builder's lien has already been registered, or whether the property has equity available before you file your own.
Legal professionals across Canada rely on accurate, up-to-the-minute lien information to prepare statements of adjustments, discharge documents, and closing reports. Our platform delivers official results fast.
When settling an estate or working through a separation, a Lien Search reveals the true equity in any real property the parties own — essential for fair distribution and accurate accounting.
Private investigators, collections specialists, and judgement creditors use name-based Lien Searches to locate property assets registered to a debtor.
Each province in Canada has its own Land Registry and its own way of recording liens. A Lien Search Ontario pulls from Teranet's electronic land registry, a Lien Search BC is run through the Land Title and Survey Authority, and a Lien Search Alberta uses the SPIN system. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces each have their own systems too — and the terminology and document formats vary from one to the next.
Landtitlesearch.ca brings every provincial registry into one easy-to-use platform. One website, one ordering process, consistent pricing, no matter where the property sits.
Nationwide coverage — every province and territory in Canada
Official results drawn directly from provincial Land Registry offices
Fast turnaround — most Lien Search results delivered in minutes
Transparent flat-rate pricing with no surprise fees
Secure 24/7 online ordering from any device
Friendly Canadian support when you need help interpreting your results
From condos in Toronto and Vancouver to acreages in Alberta, family homes in Winnipeg, and properties in Montréal, Canadians trust us to deliver clear, accurate Lien Search results — fast.
Uncover every registered lien, mortgage, and encumbrance on any Canadian property — official, online, and instant.