Update from the Land Registry regarding Registration Delays

Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic (during which the Land Registry closed some of their services) and following the subsequent upsurge in the amount of property transactions taking place, the Land Registry continue to have a significant backlog in their processing of registration applications.

Some applications are taking many months or even years to be registered. This particularly affects new build properties, leases and those applications which require the transfer of part of an existing title, but all registrations are impacted. 

The Land Registry’s latest annual report states that it is taking an average of 350 working days (about 16 months) to register most changes to a register entry.

Please note that the Land Registry will not expedite applications unless the delay is affecting other transactions (such as a subsequent sale or re-mortgage) and property owners should let their Solicitor know if the Land Registry delay is affecting such transactions so that requests to expedite applications can be submitted.