HM Land Registry: moving operations to the private sector
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
We have decided that HM Land Registry should focus on becoming a more digital data-driven registration business, and to do this will remain in the public sector. Digitisation and increased transparency will allow HM Land Registry to provide a quicker, more efficient service to customers, and maximise its value to the economy.
The digitisation of HM Land Registry is part of a wider government agenda to help improve and speed up the process of buying a home. More detail is available in the Housing white paper.
Detail of feedback received
We received a total of 27,634 responses to the consultation. The majority of these came from individuals, but we also received responses from:
- businesses
- business representative bodies
- central and local government
- charities and social enterprises
- legal representatives
- trade unions and staff associations
Original consultation
Consultation description
HM Land Registry registers the ownership of land and property in England and Wales.
This consultation sets out options to move HM Land Registry operations into the private sector. The purpose of the consultation is to:
- set out government’s reasons for proposing change
- propose how a private sector land registry would work
- share our thinking on possible models for the future of land registry
- seek views on the proposals, especially on our preferred option
A sale of HM Land Registry could allow government to pay down debt, or enable other investment for the benefit of taxpayers. It is expected that a move into the private sector would also allow HM Land Registry to become even more efficient. At the same time it could continue with an appropriate level of service to support the property market.
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 4 October 2018 + show all updates
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Government response published.
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First published.