For most homeowners, their home is their largest financial asset. We insure it, maintain it and secure it — but how often do we think about monitoring the title to the property itself?

A recent notice from the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) about mortgage fraud attempts in BC is a timely reminder of why property owners should be aware of activity involving their land title.

The good news is that BC homeowners now have another tool to help them stay informed: BC Property Connect.

What is BC Property Connect?

BC Property Connect is a secure online service provided by LTSA that gives eligible BC residential property owners direct digital access to information about their property and land title.

One of its most useful features is Property Alerts.

Once you connect your property to your account, BC Property Connect can notify you when there is new activity on your land title.

This can include:

• a new mortgage

• a transfer

• a lien

• a correction to the title

In most circumstances, title activity will be something you initiated yourself or already know about.

But in the unlikely event that you weren't expecting the activity, receiving an alert allows you to become aware of it quickly, review what happened and determine whether further action is necessary.

Why are property alerts particularly relevant right now?

LTSA recently advised the public that it is aware of mortgage fraud attempts in British Columbia involving false identification.

In these cases, fraudsters have allegedly attempted to impersonate legitimate property owners in order to obtain mortgages against their properties.

This doesn't mean BC's land title system is suddenly unsafe. LTSA continues to emphasize the strength and security of BC's land title system.

BC Property Connect should also not be thought of as something that prevents title or mortgage fraud.

Instead, Property Alerts provide an additional early-warning mechanism. If unexpected activity involving your title occurs, knowing about it sooner gives you an opportunity to investigate and respond.

How does BC Property Connect work?

Getting started is quite straightforward:

1. Find your property by entering its address.

2. Verify your identity using your BC Services Card account.

3. Create your BC Property Connect account and ensure your contact information is correct.

Once connected, you'll have secure digital access to information about your property and can receive Property Alerts when there is new activity on the title.

I contacted BC Property Connect directly and also confirmed that there is currently no cost to use the service.

Who can use BC Property Connect?

The service is currently available for eligible residential properties in British Columbia with up to two owners.

Each owner can register for their own account.

At this time, you also need a BC Services Card account to verify your identity and create a BC Property Connect account.

LTSA has indicated that eligibility and functionality will continue to expand, so homeowners who aren't currently eligible may want to check back as the service develops.

Is BC Property Connect worth signing up for?

For eligible BC homeowners, I think it's a very useful tool to know about.

It takes only a few steps to set up, there is currently no cost, and you gain another way to stay informed about an asset that may represent a significant portion of your net worth.

It's important to understand what the service does and doesn't do: BC Property Connect doesn't guarantee that property or mortgage fraud cannot occur. Instead, its Property Alerts can help you become aware of unexpected activity involving your title so you can investigate promptly.

That's a worthwhile distinction — and a worthwhile additional layer of awareness.

It’s your property. Be the first to know.

You can learn more about the program, eligibility and Property Alerts or create an account directly through BC Property Connect, a service of the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia:

BC Property Connect

If you have questions about your property, its value, or buying or selling real estate in Vancouver, I’m always happy to be a resource. Feel free to reach out anytime.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Information about BC Property Connect, including eligibility and available features, may change. Property owners should refer directly to LTSA and BC Property Connect for current information.