Updates To The Land Registry Practice Guides

It has been a month of change for the Land Registry’s processes.

We outline below some of the key changes made to the Land Registry’s Practice Guides and the areas which these will affect.

New fees

From 9 December 2024, there have been increases to the Land Registry’s fees for various applications and searches.

Many services have increased by £4, including a digital priority search and Official Copy download which are now £7 each.

A full list of the increased fees is available via Gov.UK.

Register View and Title Plan View

These services can now be used to zoom in on a document to get a better view of colouring or numbering included on a title plan.

However, the accuracy of these cannot be relied upon as any indemnity for loss by reason of a mistake within them compared to an official copy register or title plan, will not be admissible in a court. This may however provide the opportunity to help interpret those registers or title plans which are illegible without a zooming feature.

(See also our recent article on why Land Registry Official Copies cannot be relied on to establish the boundary of a property – Can I Rely On A Land Registry Plan? : Wilson Browne)

Adverse Possession

In relation to form NAP which is used to respond to an Adverse Possession claim, if the objector has not ticked the appropriate box at panel 5 to indicate a counter notice is being given, new guidance in Practice Guide 4 states that the Land Registry will review the content of the form NAP provided and determine whether there is no reasonable doubt that a counter notice was being provided.

If it appears to the Land Registry from the information provided that the objector did intend to serve a counter notice to the application for Adverse Possession, depending on the time frame remaining, they may write to the objector and ask them to serve a revised form NAP indicating the correct answer to panel 5.

Charities

Further guidance has been added to Practice Guide 14 which explains how applications involving charities should be made using the Land Registry’s digital services.

The Land Registry have also clarified that were an application is to be made in the names of more than four trustees, the digital Land Registry system cannot be used as this would only allow the insertion of four transferees. Written confirmation of the name, address and representation of any additional trustees will need to be submitted as part of the application.

First Registrations

Practice guides 52 and 73 have been updated to reflect the fact that applications to the Land Registry for first registration will require original documents to be provided. Any other application to the Land Registry can be made using certified copies of the deeds and documents. However, for first registration, the originals will need to be sent.