What happens when there are delays at the Land Registry?

It is becoming increasingly likely that after the completion of a property transaction, there will be delays at the Land Registry to register this change.

Why is this happening and what can you do to speed up the process if this happens to you?

Delays at the Land Registry

Whether you have just bought your first home, transferred a property after a loved one died, or secured a new lease on your business’s premises, these are all examples of property transactions that require an update at the Land Registry.

However, current delays at the Land Registry can result in it taking months or even a year to register the change following the completion of a property transaction.

This has been happening since the Covid lockdown in 2020 when the Land Registry suffered delays following the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday which increased the number of property transactions and therefore increased the number of applications being made – causing delays to the process.

Statistics from May 2024 highlight that the Land Registry processes around 2.4m applications every month, and that 83.1% of these are completed within the day.

Applications can be anything from an application to get a copy of a title register through to an application to update a title register.

Each month, the Land Registry handles around 336,000 applications to update a title register, and an estimated 36.8% are taking more a month to complete.

What happens at the Land Registry?

The process can be summarised like this:

• Application is received by the Land Registry
• Application is priority protected, to ensure it takes priority over those applications received after yours

Can you speed up the Land Registry Process?

The answer is yes, but only if you meet 1 of 2 criteria:

• A delay to your application would cause you problems unrelated to the property transaction
• A delay would put your property sale or transaction at risk

If the application for an update at the Land Registry includes a development or refinancing deal, for example, and a delay is deemed to place this at risk, then it is possible to speed up the process. Similarly, if you can demonstrate a hardship or problems, personal or financial, caused by the delay to justify speeding up your application, you might achieve approval by the Land Registry.

Your solicitor can submit a request to accelerate your application via the Land Registry’s site. Once received, the Land Registry will assess your application and request, and if approved, complete the application within approximately 10 working days.

Helping you with your Land Registry Registration

Our specialist property solicitors are here to help you with your property transaction, including making an application, together with a request to speed up your application, if necessary, to the Land Registry.

If you have any questions or want to speak to us about making or speeding up an application to the Land Registry, you can contact us at our Chorlton office on 0161 860 7123 or email chorlton@hlfberry.com or at our Failsworth office on 0161 681 4005 or email failsworth@hlfberry.com and we will be happy to help.