§ As Chief Executive, it is my responsibility to answer questions on operational matters concerning HM Land Registry. Consequently, the Lord Chancellor has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question to him concerning the timescale involved in processing Land Registry applications.
§ The Land Registry has reduced average processing times for registration applications from 16 weeks in 1988 to just 3 weeks at the present time. In the region of 70 per cent of all items of business handled by the Registry relate to time-sensitive pre-contract and pre-completion applications. Currently, 93 per cent. of these are completed on the day of receipt and 98 per cent. within two days of receipt. All departmental processing times are within the targets set for the Registry by the Lord Chancellor and are the fastest achieved for 19 years.
§ There are three main reasons why the Registry will raise enquiries on registration applications. Firstly, where it is necessary for a requisition to be raised with the applicant, or the person acting on their behalf, concerning a defect in the title or in the application. In this case, completing the application is dependent on the receipt of a satisfactory reply to that requisition; secondly, where the Registry is required to serve statutory notice a prescribed time must expire (in the absence of a reply) before the application may proceed; thirdly, a survey may have to be ordered to clarify any queries on the extent or boundaries of the land being transferred. In any of these instances, if the Registry is informed of difficulties that a delay may cause, it will do everything possible to hasten the completion of the application.
15WA§ I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will placed in the House Library.