Alongside the release of the latest avoidable requisition rates data from HM Land Registry now released, Andrew Robertson, Head of Customer Policy & Service Improvement joins the latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast to explore the significant improvements made while also underlining the ongoing need for firms to focus on post-completion quality and administrative accuracy.
Avoidable requisitions arise from administrative errors that should, in most cases, be prevented through standard checks. Common examples include unexplained name discrepancies across documents, missing supporting paperwork, illegible uploads and execution anomalies. These are issues that add unnecessary delays to the registration process and create additional work for both conveyancers and HMLR explains Robertson.
The headline is rates are decreasing; and by some margin.
The total number of avoidable requisition points raised annually has fallen from approximately 839,000 in 2022 to 439,000 in 2025, representing almost a 50% reduction. Even when adjusted for transaction volumes, the rate has still declined by more than 39%, demonstrating genuine improvement rather than simply reflecting changes in market activity.
That’s a saving of around £1.4 million annually in additional time and resources suggests Robertson. Given HM Land Registry’s existing processing pressures, reducing avoidable requisitions benefits everyone involved in the transaction process.
In time, more verification is being introduced by HMLR which will prevent inaccurate submissions; for now HMLR continues to work closely with firms and regulators to provide details on requisitions trends and potential areas of concern
Asked how firms can continue to improve their performance Robertson suggests there is no single formula for success. In his experience strong post-completion administration appears to be a common feature. Some firms have dedicated post-completion teams, while others embed quality checking into their wider processes. Regardless of the approach, investing time and resource into getting applications right first time delivers clear benefits in efficiency, profitability and client service.
HMLR also provide plenty of training material through the HM Land Registry training hub which Robertson implores firms to view and use.
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