HM Land Registry (HMLR) has published avoidable requisitions data on GOV.UK, in a bid to “help conveyancers cut delays, improve application quality and access free training”. Fully avoidable requisitions make up 4.6% of the 1.3 million applications to HMLR according to the data, which covers the six months from April to September 2025.
The updated data shows “encouraging progress” since HMLR started sharing resources in May 2025, the organisation said. Just under a third (29%) of professional customers have seen a reduction in their avoidable requisition rates, and 57% now have rates below 5%.
A fifth of firms (20%) achieve rates under 1%, up from 17% last year, and 18% have no avoidable requisitions at all. Of the 4610 firms on the list, 3274 (71%) recorded 10 or fewer fully avoidable requisitions. “But some firms still hit higher rates, so the challenge remains,” HMLR said.
The worst offenders by percentage, Dale and Dale Solicitors, saw requisition rates of 45%, but in the overall context of absolute numbers had submitted only 11 applications, with five fully avoidable requisitions. Taylor Rose topped the list of applications with avoidable requisitions by volume, with 1,463 of 22,642 applications (6.4%) considered fully avoidable.
A spokesperson for Taylor Rose said:
“Over recent months, Taylor Rose has undertaken a major project to reduce requisitions, partnering with Infotrack and leveraging its technology to minimise avoidable requisitions. It has also centralised post-completion services so that all applications are now handled by its in-house team, giving greater control and visibility.
“These measures are already delivering results. Infotrack data shows Taylor Rose’s requisition rates have more than halved in the last six months of data, and it expects this to be reflected in the next set of figures from HM Land Registry (HMLR) for this year.”
The top 10 firms by volume of applications saw an avoidable requisition rate of 3.7% on average; 6527 of their 192,438 applications were fully avoidable, according to the data.
Publishing the data acknowledges calls from regulators and consumer groups for greater transparency, HMLR said, with the new dataset offering “a clearer, more focused view.”
“Firms have told us they want clearer insight into where they can improve, and this dataset provides that,” said Iain Banfield, interim chief executive and chief land registrar.
“The progress we’ve seen over the past six months shows what is possible when we work together. There is still more to do, but these results demonstrate real momentum and a shared commitment to reducing delays for our customers and their clients. We thank all our customers for their efforts and look forward to continuing this progress together.”
Alongside the progress being made by its professional customers, HMLR said it is “working hard internally” to strengthening its own processes, including training more than 4,000 staff in the Land Registration Academy since 2021, to ensure greater accuracy and consistency in the requisitions it raises.
The organisation commented:
“HM Land Registry now offers more information about application quality, giving conveyancers and law firms clearer insight into what they can do to improve their applications and reduce costly delays for HM Land Registry, themselves and their clients in the property market.”
As well as updating and publishing the dataset, HMLR is offering free workshops and on-demand training via an online training hub , with automated digital checks to prevent mistakes at source. It has also published a video with caseworkers’ top 10 tips for making sure applications are complete and correct.
Sheila Kumar is the chief executive of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). She said:
“It is clear that the focus on requisition rates and improving title application quality is already having a positive impact for home buyers and the property industry.
“The CLC will continue to work with HM Land Registry to ensure conveyancers have the information and training they need to continue this progress.
“Timely and high quality title applications are the vital final step in conveyancing, protecting clients and lenders, and we urge all CLC lawyers to make use of the HM Land Registry practice guides and training hub.”
Dataset: Request for information (avoidable requisition) data
