Top 10 Tips for tip-top applications
Watch our caseworkers' top tips to make sure your applications are complete and correct. Avoid more than 20 common requisition points.
Applies to England and Wales
In 2023, we sent almost a million requisitions, 70% of which came down to around 30 specific issues. None involved a certificate or consent, but collectively they took us – and more importantly, our customers – a huge amount of time and money to resolve.
We asked our caseworkers for their top tips, and created ten short videos designed to help you lodge complete and correct applications.
Aimed at staff who are new to conveyancing or post-completion teams, you can view the short videos individually, all together or download and add them to your own in-house training.
We also published extra training materials such as guidance to help reduce requisitions, a webinar about how to avoid requests for information and our quick wins for fewer requisitions document.
Names
Find out where the most common issues arise with names in applications – and how to avoid them.
Top 10 Tips 1: Names - (YouTube)
More resources
Blog: What’s in a name?
Webinars:
Podcast:
- Avoiding Variations in Names (SoundCloud)
- Avoiding Variations in Names (Spotify)
- HM Land Registry Customer Training Podcast
Flowchart: Variation in names flowchart
Witness details
In 2023, we sent more than 52,000 requisitions over witness details. Find out how to get them right first time with our top tips.
Top 10 Tips 2: Witness Details (youtube.com)
More resources
Guidance: Practice guide 8: execution of deeds
Webinar: Execution of deeds
Type of ownership
Do you often forget to tell us how new proprietors are to hold the property? Watch this video for a catchy way to remember.
Top 10 Tips 3: Type of Ownership (youtube.com)
More resources
Blog: What kind of joint ownership do I have?
Guidance:
Identity
Find out when we need identity evidence and how to flawlessly fill out panel 13 of form AP1.
Top 10 Tips 4: Identity - YouTube
More resources
Guidance:
- Practice guide 67: evidence of identity
- Completing the evidence of identity panels on forms AP1, FR1 and DS2
- Verify identity: citizen (ID1)
- Completing forms ID1 and ID2
- Certificate of identity for a private individual (ID3)
- Completing forms ID3 and ID4
- HM Land Registry identity
Video:
What’s missing?
Watch this video for tips on what to check before you send your application. After names, it’s the second highest reason for a requisition.
Top 10 Tips 5: Missing Pages (youtube.com)
More resources
Webinar: Bitesize: Forms and Deeds
Where’s the evidence?
Find out what missing evidence prompts a requisition and how to make sure you don’t get one.
Top 10 Tips 6: Where’s the Evidence (youtube.com)
More resources
Guidance:
- Stamp Duty Land Tax overview
- Practice guide 9: powers of attorney and registered land
- Practice guide 6: devolution on the death of a registered proprietor
- Update property records when someone dies
Dates and amounts
The deed is dated but you still got a requisition. Find out why – and what to do if you don’t know the price paid – by watching this short video.
Top 10 Tips 7: Dates and Amounts (youtube.com)
More resources
Webinar: Bitesize: Forms and deeds
Deed in parts
We prefer to receive a single copy of a transfer, executed by all the parties. But if that’s not possible, how do you make sure you don’t get a requisition?
Top 10 Tips 8: Partly Right (youtube.com)
More resources
Webinar: Bitesize: Forms and Deeds
Plans and descriptions
Watch this video to find out what makes a tip-top plan that we can accept first time.
Top 10 Tips 9: Plans and Property (youtube.com)
More resources
Webinars:
Death of a proprietor
Check the evidence we need to amend the register if someone has died.
Top 10 Tips 10: Death (youtube.com)
More resources
Blog: What to do when a property owner dies
Guidance: