Potential Privatisation of HM Land Registry

With strikes ongoing within certain departments of Land Registry offices throughout the country on 14th and 15th May 2014, questions must be asked as to why changes to the proposed civil service status of the Registry are still being considered and what impact it will have on the 150 year system of Land Registration.

A snapshot of the services currently offered by the Land Registry:

• The registration of the ownership of your property, be that residential, commercial, agricultural or other. This includes the registration and subsequent removal of legal charges and other financial matters.

• A central holding place for electronic copies of your title deeds and documents

The words “service delivery company” may not mean much to many, but this may become a reality if the civil service element of HMLR is stripped. Along with this, we will also lose the an impartial and definitive voice, that is run free from outside interest and commercial influence.

Bound by government policy, it aids individuals, small and medium businesses on a daily basis, and offers mortgage lenders security in the registration of legal charges. Costs are clear, complaints processed, if required, in a defined period and timely manner.

Although not fully confirmed, if the proposed plans were to go ahead this would certainly lead to job losses and office closures. A concern to all that use and rely on the Land Registry, as an individual or commercial body must then be; how  will this affect me?

The simple answer of course, is that the government will no longer have a say on costs, current timescales for registration will not be adhered to, and control of this fundamental service will be passed to those who run purely for profit.

Trust in the Registry’s work has remained high over the years and tinkering begs the final question:

If it’s not broken, why fix it?

For any questions that you may have on how the Land Registry currently assist you and your business with your property needs please contact Lynette Norris or Ian Haynes.