Access to land title in Cambodia: A study of Systematic Land Registration in three Cambodian provinces and the Capital

The primary focus of the research was to identify when and how exclusions and other barriers are preventing people from accessing Systematic Land Registration (SLR), and how this is impacting on the broader benefits of the titling system. The study found that in some areas in Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk province, between one third and four fifths of land parcels remained unregistered after the process had concluded. By contrast in the rural villages of Kampong Cham and Banteay Meanchey provinces over 99% of parcels were registered, there were very few exclusions, and the process appears to have run smoothly. A city-rural divide is evident in the report, with high levels of exclusions and disputes occurring where land has highest value, especially in Phnom Penh. Reasons for land being left unregistered include on-going land disputes, overlaps with State property, or lack of data.

A further concern highlighted by the study is that land that is subsequently passed on to a new owner is not being properly registered with the cadastral authorities; – it is only being registered at local level, which is insufficient. There is a great need for better information to landowners on this issue.