HMLR to move to mandatory digital applications from November 2022

HMLR to move to mandatory digital applications from November 2022

HM Land Registry are changing the way they receive and process Register Update applications in an effort to reduce errors and make processing time faster. From November 2022 HM Land Registry will only accept digital applications for changes to existing titles via their online customer portal

Most applications received are submitted as PDFs or scanned copies via their customer Portal or their Business Gateway platform. Functionality has now been built within these services to accept digital applications. Instead of uploading PDFs or scans, the data is either entered directly into the HM Land Registry’s systems and is automatically checked for errors against information held on the register as well as calculating the correct fee.

The portal, which has been live testing since April 2021, has already seen over 100,000 applications submitted digitally and certain applications have seen a 25% reduction in errors. HMLR are committed to continued customer engagement to develop the service further and aid the transition from one service to the other.

Taylor Rose MW were an early adopter of digital applications and Dawn Goodwin, Team Leader Post Completion at Taylor Rose MW commented:

“It takes ten minutes to complete an application. We used to generate the AP1s ourselves. Interestingly we don’t get requisitions for spelling errors now, which has taken a massive chunk of the requisitions away. That was always an issue, it [digital applications] has taken it away…It’s faster and so easy to use. The work of getting the application created and submitted is getting done more quickly.”

Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive of HM Land Registry Simon Hayes added:

“I am very pleased to be announcing this move to Digital Applications, which I believe creates a number of opportunities for our customers and for HM Land Registry. By validating applications automatically prior to submission, the new process reduces errors, meaning fewer applications are sent back to our customers for clarification or more information, which is always a source of frustration for all involved.”

“For HMLR, elements of the caseworker review can be automated, speeding up or removing many of the manual tasks traditionally required to process an application, enabling quicker service times in the future. By automating in this way we also free up our expert caseworkers to spend more time on complex cases, which will also benefit customers. We are currently seeing a 25% drop in requisitions where digital applications are being used for charge/transfer and transfer-only applications – and we expect that to improve even further.”

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