Law and practice

More HM Land Registry customers are saving time and money with right-first-time applications

Application quality is increasing, but we still have work to do. Look out for your email with details of your avoidable requisitions score.

How HM Land Registry works to protect property owners 

Illustration of houses with one house in orange being alerted.

An understanding and awareness of property and title fraud, and how to guard against them, is critical in supporting our frontline defences as well as the wider public and business sectors – not just on the 25th anniversary of International Fraud Awareness Week but at all times.

Qualified Electronic Signatures: Answering your questions

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Data, Digital services, Law and practice
Woman signing electronically for a service.

Following HM Land Registry's recent announcement that we will accept Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), we've put together answers to your most frequently asked questions to help you understand how this is working in practice.

The true picture of property fraud in England and Wales

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Buying and selling property, Law and practice
Keyring with a house and the word Property Fraud written on a yellow background.

While recent media stories may have left homeowners fearing that property fraud is increasing dramatically, we can confirm that thankfully it remains relatively rare, in part due to some simple steps that people can take to protect their property.

How to deal with property using a power of attorney 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Law and practice
An elderly lady showing her son paperwork.

This guide explains how powers of attorney work for property transactions and what HM Land Registry needs when registering property transfers. It covers different types of powers of attorney, how they're created and used, and special rules for gifts and undervalued sales.

Explaining easements – making the correct applications

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Law and practice
A strip of barbed wire in sharp focus, with a green field and a line of trees and bushes in softer focus behind.

Easements – the rights enjoyed by one landowner over land owned by another – are an important legal interest and a complex area of land law. Ensuring you make the correct applications should mean you avoid many of the most serious difficulties that can arise.