HM Land Registry: digital applications
Applications to change the register are now digital by default for business customers.
Applies to England and Wales
The switch to digital applications
For business customers, we are moving towards fully digital applications and away from paper-based electronic applications. Rather than a scan or a PDF, the details of the application are entered directly into our services or via legal software, capturing the data digitally.
Digital applications see fewer errors and requisitions and help speed up the process of land registration.
From 30 November 2022, digital applications are the default for business customers submitting applications to change the register.
Requisitions for incorrect name and fee errors have fallen 40% for applications submitted through the Digital Registration Service.
How to submit digitally
You can submit applications digitally:
- using the Digital Registration Service in the HM Land Registry portal
- through legal software connected to HM Land Registry systems
Both options reduce errors and requisitions by improving the quality of the initial application. There are different benefits to each route, and lots of options when submitting through legal software. If you’re not submitting digitally already, click through the links above to find out more about which option might suit you.
Customers submitted more than 1.3 million applications through these 2 routes from October 2021 to September 2022.
Your business
If you do not already use a case management system and have no requirement for a bespoke solution, then the Digital Registration Service is likely to be for you. It is free to use and available to all with a portal account.
Submitting through legal software can bring some additional benefits including reducing duplication and time spent manually inputting data. If you already have a case management system and are interested in linking your processes together with submitting applications and other possible time savings, investing in legal software could be for you.
Support
If after reading the guidance and support materials, you are still finding barriers to submit digital applications, please complete our short survey to tell us more.
Updates to this page
Last updated 15 November 2022 + show all updates
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Added updated information for submitting AP1 applications.
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Updated information for the Digital Registration Service.
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We have added more information about the options to submit digitally and the support available to switch.
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We have added further information about the move from electronic to digital applications.
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We have added two Digital Registration Service case studies.
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First published.