GOV.UK
Three quarters (76%) of the customers who use our free online service, Application Enquiry, agree that it reduces the time they need to speak to us about their registration applications. We all know the expression ‘time is money’, so if you are a land or property professional, are you using the service and reducing your costs like your competitors?
What is Application Enquiry?
Application Enquiry has been giving land and property professionals accurate information about pending registration applications since March 2016. To use it, you’ll need to be signed up to use our Business e-services through the HM Land Registry portal.
The service offers you an online tool that supports the way you already monitor and manage registration applications. You can use it to search the applications that have been lodged with us for registration, and use a variety of references to check:
- an application’s progress status;
- the reason an application has been delayed, where applicable;
- if a charge has been discharged;
- information about recently completed or cancelled applications; or
- the full priority period for Official Searches.
Please note that you will need certain references to search for certain things. For example, you won’t be able to find out whether an application has been completed if you don’t have the relevant reference number we give you, keeping it all secure.
Why use our Application Enquiry option
82% of those who have used Application Enquiry rate it as excellent, very good or good and over half (59%) agree that they are able to find all of the information they need about their applications. That’s because we’ve been enhancing the service in response to user feedback since we launched it.
Once you have found the details you need, you can save them as a PDF to keep for your records or send them to other interested parties. Our customers, such as lenders, asked us for this feature so we built it for them.
If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can contact us directly from Application Enquiry. You can even send us a request to expedite your application under certain circumstances.
Once you start using Application Enquiry, you shouldn’t need to call or email us as often, especially about the progress, status of, or recent activity with your applications. This means your organisation can focus on other priorities, while we get on with processing your applications.
We know our customers want us to improve our speed of service as a priority. Together, we believe we can drive down the time it takes us to process applications, especially new title applications, and reduce the time and cost of registration.
How to make an Application Enquiry
Our guide explains how Business e-services customers can check their current applications to HM Land Registry through the portal.
We have also put together some tips to help you get the most from the service. They include searching by the reference we supply and saving application details for later, and checking and verifying discharge activity, the limitations of requesting more information and asking us to expedite an application.
The statistics in this post have come from the Customer Satisfaction Survey we conducted between 20 February and 3 March 2017. 300 customers took part.
53 comments
Comment by Soe Moe Thu posted on
I bought a new property and moved in december 2016. Till today, I still don't have the title deed yet.
Whenever I chased the solicitors about the progress, always receive the same response "I have checked the status of your application with the Land Registry and unfortunately it is still waiting to be processed due to a long backlog of applications against the plot itself".
Is it normal to take that long?
Comment by Ian posted on
Hello. Some more complex applications are taking months to complete but most cases lodged in December will have been processed. It is possible that the application is not in order in which case we would need to query this with the solicitors before the case could be completed. If you have the title number / address we'll check the position.
Comment by Soe Moe Thu posted on
My address is 7 Ramsons Crescent Didcot, OX11 6FQ. I don't know the title number. Where can I find it?
Comment by Ian posted on
Sorry, just the address is fine, but I can confirm that the title provisionally allocated to your property is ON331803. The application from Davies & Partners was lodged with us 20 March 2017. When the application came to be considered this month, a few points were found not to be in order and so a 'requisition' was raised with the solicitors today to rectify this. Once your solicitors have complied with the outstanding points, the case will be completed.
Comment by Soe Moe Thu posted on
Thank you, Ian. I really appreciate it.
Comment by adamh posted on
Some - we do have delays but that seems very long. Do you have the title number affected please?
Comment by adamh posted on
Soe Moe Thu - that application was in fact cancelled in August but it has been resubmitted and registered under title ON335286
Comment by AMc posted on
Hi,
Similar to So Moe Thu's comment above. We purchased our property back in October 2017 and we still do not have confirmation that the title deeds have been registered. Our solicitor (L.A.R.K) is extremely difficult to get hold of and on the rare occasion she does respond she says that she'll let us know when she hears anything. Does it usually take this long? Is there anyone I can talk to at the HMRC Land Registry office?
Our address is: Ground Floor Flat, 58a Bargery Road, SE6 2LN
Many thanks
Comment by AdamH posted on
AMc - I'm afraid we don't currently have an application against that property/title. I can see that the solicitors have submitted applications last year and this but they have been cancelled as incomplete. In the circumstances you'll need to pursue it with them for an update on what the issues are and when they are likely to be able to submit the application
Comment by RC posted on
Hi - I am looking for an update on title BGL140014 (it's a shame we can't see the status ourselves given how notoriously uncommunicative most conveyancers are). We are unable to refinance without a registered title so are desperate. Any chance/way we can expedite this process? Thanks.
Comment by AdamH posted on
RC - the application to register the new lease was received in late March. We currently have a backlog of this type of work and the current average timescale between receipt and consideration is around 59 working days. As such I would not expect it to be considered for several more weeks.
If there is an urgency to the need to have it registered then the lodging conveyancer can contact us with those details and a request for expedition. They will be aware of the process so I would recommend contacting them and asking them to submit that request. It has to come from them as it is their application.
Whilst I understand the frustrations involved with staying abreast of an application's status there is invariably little to report other than to confirm receipt. The delays tend to be with regards the wait time between receipt and consideration and the average timescales are published on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-land-registry-service-standards
There can though be other factors involved and invariably it is the conveyancer who is aware of that wider picture
Comment by Hannah D posted on
Hello,
Please can you provide an update on the registration of the deed of variation for Flat 105, 55 Violet Road, London, E33FW?
Many thanks
Hannah
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hannah - the application was submitted on 17th September and is currently waiting to be considered by a senior officer to confirm whether it can be completed or any issues need to be raised with the lodging conveyancer. That should be this week
Comment by Hannah d posted on
Hello
Many thanks for your response. Is there any way to expedite this ? I had told my buyer 10 days as this is what I heard from the solicitor .
Many thanks
Hannah
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hannah - if you have a confirmed buyer then your solicitor needs to contact us with those details and a request to expedite. They will be aware of the process and the evidence needed. It will need to come from them.
Expedition will reduce the wait time before it is considered again so it can then either be completed or any issues raised
Comment by Hannah d posted on
Hello
Many thanks for your reply .
I believe that the application has already been expedited. Please can you confirm that this is the case?
Many thanks
Hannah
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hannah - apologies as it has been expedited. Coincidentally in rechecking I note that we are about to write to the lodging solicitors so hopefully they will have more details from us shortly.
Comment by Hannah D posted on
Hello
The lodging solicitor hasn't received anything. This really is urgent now. Please advise.
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hannah - we have not written yet as the instructions from the senior officer confirming the details has only just been provided. I'll contact the local office and ask them to consider sending the details to the solicitor asap
Comment by Hannah D posted on
Hello, the application for Flat 105, 55 Violet Road, E33FW has been resubmitted as per the Land Registry instructions. Please can you confirm that this will be expedited as the same situation with the pending sale applies? Many thanks!
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Hello. I am replying as Adam is unavailable. The resubmitted application was received today and I can confirm that it will be considered for expedition today and we will start processing the case as soon as possible.
Comment by Hannah D posted on
Hello Ian/Adam
Please could I have an update on the application?
Many thanks
Hannah
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Hello. I'm not sure whether you were updated that the re-lodged application was submitted on 4 October and has been expedited/prioritised? I have asked the office concerned to actively consider the case as soon as possible. We won't be able to give a further update until that consideration happens.
Comment by david forrester posted on
hello, I'm currently trying to buy a house where there has been issues raised by my solicitor involving next doors boundary. The sellers solicitor is convinced there is no issue, thus resulting in a stale mate. To get around this my solicitor suggested them registering the property as it was a first registration. I have no been waiting months and was told that they submitted the application in august some time. Our mortgage offer is soon to run out and we need to have the application expidtied. Can you confirm for me if the application has been expedited please? the address is 17 thornton road, southport, pr9 7bn.
Many Thanks
Dave
Comment by ianflowers posted on
David - The application was received on 9 October and we have not currently received a request for it to be expedited. The solicitors acting will need to do this supplying evidence of any dependent transaction.
Comment by Rachel Adams posted on
Hello,
I am really desperate as there could be a possibility our cash buyers will back out due to the length of time we have been waiting for LR to get back with a query. The vendors have the root title but we need clarification from LR so the right parcel of land is correct. My solicitor has requested the vendors solicitor to expedite it but still nothing, could someone please help'
The address is 1 Sadlers croft OX44 9DE . IThis move will enable me to get to family as I have had to work away for 3 years . Many thanks
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Rachel - I can confirm that the application was received on 19 October and the solicitor's successfully requested expedition on 29 October. The application has been initially considered but we have needed contact the solicitors acting on 30 October to resolve a couple of outstanding points for the application to be in order. We are therefore currently reliant on those solicitors to get back to us for the application to proceed. Hopefully your solicitor will be able to update you on progress.
Comment by Rachel Adams posted on
That is very kind.. thank you for a swift response
Comment by Tracy posted on
We have recently purchased our house under the right to buy scheme from the local council. We now need finance for home improvements but are unable to obtain this until we own the title. As this is a part transfer our solicitor has advised us that there is a backlog at LR and it could take up to 6 months. Is there anyway we could speed this up and what would be the costs to request an expedite?
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Tracy - The type of application in question, probably involves the creation of a new register - these applications currently take 52 working days to complete, on average. The solicitors acting can request the case be expedited and there is no charge for this. But they must also provide evidence of the dependent transaction.
Comment by Tracy posted on
Thank you Ian. We will speak to our solicitor again.
Comment by Tracy posted on
Hi Ian, our solicitor informs us that they have requested an expedite but are unable to tell us the current situation. Would it be possible for you to check the status of the application for me? The address is 30 Middlehill, Barrow in Furness, LA13 9HD. Many thanks, Tracy
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Tracy - Hi. I can confirm that the application was received on 5 November and has been made expedite. We have needed to raise a couple of points with the solicitors acting on 6 November and are now dependent on them to resolve these before the case can proceed.
Comment by Tracy posted on
Hi Ian, we have just found out from the solicitor that the problem with registering the title is because the right to buy transfer from the council is in joint names but the mortgage is solely in my husbands name.
Is there anything we can do about this?
It is holding up major building work on the property and we really need to get this sorted asap.
Many thanks, Tracy
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Tracy - Hi. Yes that's the issue as all registered owners must be borrowers on the mortgage. It should be fairly straightforward to resolve this but it is all dependent on what's been agreed between the parties involved.
Comment by Tracy posted on
So could the property not be registered in just my husband's name as he is the mortgage holder? I'm not bothered whether or not I am named on the deeds. We are hitting a brick wall with the solicitor!
Comment by AdamH posted on
Tracy - that is entirely up to you both and the council so if it is to be in just his sole name you would need to have the Transfer, which I assume has yet to be registered, amended by all parties as appropriate
Comment by Hayley posted on
Hi,
We are waiting for a new build property that we are buying to be registered in our vendor’s name so we can complete.
We were due to exchange last week and then again today and it’s still not happening because we are having to wait for land registry!
We were meant to be moved in a month ago and the buyer for our current home is only prepared to wait till 7th December (3 weeks today) to move in otherwise she will walk. So we are facing having to move out of our current home to complete our sale, and be homeless before Christmas because land registry still haven’t registered our vendor as the owner of the house we are purchasing.
The application was expedited last week and the expedite request was accepted on 12th November.
I understand the 10 day wait but if you could please Give me any updates you have, or let me know whether there has been any issues, I would be so grateful as the solicitors aren’t getting back to me!
The property address is 1A Nettleton Close, Poole, Dorset, BH17 8PL
Thank you
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hayley - I can see that the application has indeed been expedited and as such i would expect it to be considered this week. If in order then it can be completed but if not then any issues would be raised with the lodging solicitor. You may wish to post again towards the end of the week and quote allocated title DT441449 and we can check again on progress.
Comment by Hayley posted on
Ok thank you Adam
Comment by Hayley posted on
Hi Adam,
Please could you check this again for me to see if any issues have been raised or whether it will be completed this week?
This is really really urgent now as we have a completion date for 7th December!
Thank you.
Comment by ianflowers posted on
Hi. I'm replying as Adam is unavailable. I can confirm that the case was completed in the afternoon of 19 November. The completion papers were sent to the solicitors acting on that day, so they should have received them by now.
Comment by Hayley posted on
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your reply. Apparently there were 3 parts to the application.
One was a ‘transfer of part’ from the neighbouring property, which has apparently been completed.
The second was something to do with the developers mortgage redemption, and the third was a transfer of companies on the title, from B Smart to Bourne Homes Ltd.
Was all of this completed on 19th November? As my solicitors have still not heard from the acting solicitor to say it’s been completed and it’s still showing as ‘pending’ on the portal!
I’m very confused, could you shed some light on this please?
Comment by AdamH posted on
Hayley - I believe you are also in touch with us via our online forum. Can we stick to that single channel now please to save duplication/confusion
Comment by Barry johnson posted on
Hi my would appreciate an update on a deed of variation entered for flat 3 heathside pwllheli ll535al if it is possible thanks
Comment by AdamH posted on
Barry - the application is waiting to be considered. It appears that it has been expedited late last week so it should now be considered sometime this week I suspect. Once considered it will either be completed or any issues raised with the lodging solicitor
Comment by Barry johnson posted on
Thanks for your quick response
Comment by Barry johnson posted on
Hi is it possible to have an update on a deed of variation for flat 3 heathside pwllheli ll535al.. thanks
Comment by AdamH posted on
Barry - the application is still pending and we are waiting on the conveyancer to supply additional details. I would suggest you contact them direct for clarification on what is currently outstanding
Comment by Barry Johnson posted on
Will do thanks
Comment by Barry Johnson posted on
Hi could I please have an update on the deed of variation for flat 3 heathside pwllheli ll535al my solicitor has supposed to have sorted the extra info you required .. just want to check if you have received it yet.. thanks
Comment by AdamH posted on
Barry - the extra info has yet to be submitted (note to self - CYM751471)
Comment by Barry Johnson posted on
Ok thanks for the response