HM Land Registry will be asking conveyancers for written evidence to show they have taken steps to resolve a request for information (requisition) before granting an extension from next month.
This change comes after the window for replying to requests for information was extended in January to 20 days. But conveyancers now have an extra 40 days to reply to a request for information, compared with the previous policy of cancelling an application after 20 days. This has resulted in a reduction in conveyancers asking for both extensions and cancellations, allowing our caseworkers to focus on processing new applications.
From Monday 17th May 2021, Conveyancers will now need to supply written evidence of steps taken to resolve the request. The evidence should include:
- a summary of dates on which they have actively pursued any outstanding matters
- documentation which shows if a delay is with a third party
We are no longer accepting requests by telephone. Portal users should use Reply to Requisition rather than Application Enquiry.
Conveyancers are also reminded to include an email address when lodging applications to receive reminders for any requests for information – these are sent after 40 days in most cases.
For more details, see practice guide 50.
