HMLR have announced that their fees are to rise from 31st January 2022 for the first time since 2009. The increases have been levied against applications for first registration and for the registration of transfers, leases and mortgages of property (scales 1 and 2).
In an effort to continue to move the industry toward greater digitisation the increase has been structured in such a way that fees for applications submitted electronically will increase by 11%. Those submitted by post will increase by 21%.
There are a handful of minor changes and exemptions:
- Including a specific reference to the fee for applications for an entry relating to Right to Manage companies under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. This is to make this clearer, as there is no change in the fee.
- Change in fees for obtaining historical copies of the register, so they align with the fees for official copies of the register.
- A new exemption for requests to note disclaimers of properties made by liquidators, the Treasury Solicitor, and trustees in bankruptcy.
Last week’s Budget provided a 19.7% boost to HM Land Registry spending as it seeks to accelerate its programme of digitisation. In a blog published on Today’s Conveyancer HMLR Deputy Director of Digital Services Eddie Davies describes how the investment HMLR have made in recent years “will make registering land and property quicker and easier by making error checking and processing times faster.”
This fee increase will, according to HMLR, enable them to
“move forward with plans to deliver what customers need – more consistency and speed in service delivery by investing in both operational capacity and accelerating the digitalisation and automation of services.”
Under section 102 of the Land Registration Act 2002, changes to HM Land Registry fees need to be set by means of a fee order (which is a statutory instrument). This was laid before Parliament on 2 November 2021.”
The details of all fees increases is outlined on the Fees review 2021 to 2022 Guidance page on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-to-hm-land-registry-fees/fees-review-2021-to-2022
