|
Her Majesty’s Land Registry (HMLR) is a government department responsible to the Lord Chancellor. Its main purpose is to register details of title to land in England and Wales (but not Scotland), and to record any dealings or changes of ownership once the land has been registered.
Established in 1862, HMLR is required by statute to be self-financing and makes no call on public funds.
Land Registry records, which cover some 17 million land titles, are used primarily by financial institutions, solicitors, estate agents and others involved in conveyancing or mortgage-related activities. They may also be consulted by local authorities, emergency services and other professional users.
Until 1992, HMLR traditionally kept its property titles and plans in hard-copy form. People requesting information could apply by post, in person or by telephone to any one of the 24 district Land Registries in England and Wales and expect to wait an average of three days for delivery. When a property changed hands, it could take weeks for the title to be amended.
Since the early 1990s, HMLR has been involved in several projects designed to use online technology to speed up the whole process of buying and selling houses in England and Wales.
In May this year, it announced a 10-year strategic plan to introduce fully electronic conveyancing, and is currently conducting a major consultation exercise on this topic.
|
