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Issue 10

14 December 2023

Welcome to issue 10 of Practice and Process, featuring our usual mix of recent practice guide updates, process changes and training news. We're very happy you're continuing to subscribe to and read our newsletter as we head into 2024. If you find Practice and Process useful, please spread the word among your colleagues and send them our subscription link so they can join the thousands of practitioners already signed up: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKGOVUK_LR/signup/35746

PG1

Which practice guide has changed?
Practice guide 1: first registrations

When did it change?
20 November 2023

What has changed?
We have amended section 5.4.

What does it mean for customers?
We have amended our guidance to reflect a change to our practice regarding the evidence we require for first registrations based on assents.

Applications for first registration based on an assent no longer need to be accompanied by a copy of the will, or a statutory declaration showing that the estate owner became entitled on the intestacy of the deceased.

PG6

Which practice guide has changed?
Practice guide 6: devolution on the death of a registered proprietor

When did it change?
27 November 2023

What has changed?
We have added section 2.5 to give guidance on vesting and/or transfer of property as bona vacantia on intestacy.

What does it mean for customers?
Where the residuary estate of an intestate person has vested as bona vacantia in the Treasury Solicitor (as nominee of the Crown) or one of the Royal Duchies, we will require a certified or official copy of the grant of letters of administration for the deceased with any related application sent to us.

PG19

Which practice guide has changed?
Practice guide 19: notices, restrictions and the protection of third-party interests in the register

When did it change?
6 November 2023

What has changed?
We have amended sections 3.8 and 3.9.

What does it mean for customers?
We have added clarification for altering and modifying a restriction.

Our guidance now details the circumstances in which restrictions can be altered and sets out the powers of the registrar in making modifications.

PG50

Which practice guide has changed?
Practice guide 50: requisition and cancellation procedures

When did it change?
20 November 2023

What has changed?
We have amended section 2.

What does it mean for customers?
We have amended our guidance to include additional ways to reply to requisitions.

If you are a Business e-services customer, you can use the View Applications function in the HM Land Registry portal.

If you are not a Business e-services customer and need to send us an electronic document, you can use the ‘I need to reply to a requisition’ option in the HM Land Registry Contact form.

Process changes

Deferral of discharge requisitions

From Friday 15 December 2023 we will defer discharge requisitions for 20 days when it is the only requisition point.

Feedback from customers and lenders has shown that in most cases the process of obtaining the discharge is ongoing and the issuing of a requisition is needless for both customers and HM Land Registry caseworkers. The data we have suggests we will receive most discharges within the 20-day deferral period.

We will not be applying this policy to applications that have been with us for longer than 20 days.

The introduction of this policy was postponed from Monday 11 December to await an internal system update.

Withdrawal of third party notifications

Panel 8 of our application form AP1 allows an applicant to request notification of completion of registration be sent to a third party.

From early next year we will no longer provide this service for newly lodged applications.

As well as analysing the data and evidence, we sought customers’ views, based on which we have concluded that withdrawing this service does not appear to carry any significant risks.

Additionally, as more and more customers move to our Digital Registration Service (DRS), this is becoming the default application method. DRS does not offer third party notifications.

We expect to stop issuing third party notifications on new applications (but not those already pending) in early January and aim to confirm the date in the next issue of Practice and Process.

Watch and share our growing range of short videos

We are creating short videos on a range of specific topics that you can share with your clients – or colleagues new to conveyancing. We have just added:

How to complete form AS1

How to complete form ID1

We would love to receive your feedback about the videos via our short surveys below. If you have a spare five minutes please let us know what you think.

AS1 video survey

ID1 video survey

Also available within the Public Guidance playlist on our YouTube channel, and the public guidance page within the HM Land Registry training hub, are:

How to find information about your property boundaries

What’s happening with my application?

How to update your contact address

Additionally, we have made short videos that aim to explain our role for people who are not familiar with HM Land Registry. These are available on our YouTube channel, as well as the Essentials page on our training hub:

What does HM Land Registry do?

HM Land Registry and the conveyancing process

HM Land Registry training hub

Our HM Land Registry training hub provides access to a wealth of easy-to-find and easy-to-follow guidance and training materials on hundreds of topics – all in one place – to help you prepare and submit high quality applications, and make the best use of HM Land Registry services.

Along with practice guides, you'll find links to guidance pages, webinars, videos, podcasts, checklists and flowcharts.

We’re continuously growing and developing our training offering and will be adding new content as and when it becomes available.

HM Land Registry Essentials

Our self-service training package HM Land Registry Essentials will help you with the basics – whether you’re new to conveyancing or just need a refresher. What does HM Land Registry do? How do we fit into the conveyancing process? And how do you avoid requisitions when submitting applications to us? Find out the answers to these questions and more.

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