Why is it taking so long? Land Registry delays to buying your home

Buying a house can take quite a while, but how long does it take for the Land Registry to complete your application, and why does it take so long? 

In this article, we outline the general timeframes it takes most people to go through the process – and highlight vulnerability to civil service industrial action.

Time needed to register existing titles

When it comes to common ownership, mortgage, or other similar changes to existing registered titles, the average timeframe for a completion is between 10 and 30 days. There can be hiccups along the way which have the potential of extending this, but the majority of applications are completed in 60 to 80 days.

If you need to make more complex changes through the Land Registry, for example registering an extension to an existing Lease term, it will take longer, as there is more work to be done on existing registered titles. The average timescale is around 80 to 100 days, though in certain circumstances the process can take up to 150 to 185 days.

It has however been known for such changes to take even longer depending on whether Land Registry raise any questions, known as “requisitions” on the application lodged.

Registering a property for the first time

If, however, a property is being registered for the first time, the Land Registry has to run extensive checks to ensure that there are no hidden surprises in the land register.

These can include additional covenants on title, or third party rights, often contained in old Deeds and Conveyances, which may need to be registered to protect third party interests.

Since these titles often have a number of old Deeds, sometimes going back over 100 years, there is a lot for the Land Registry to check before adding the title to the Register, making the registration process more complex.

Legal Aid Agency & Land Registry strikes

To further increase the length of time for the Land Registry to do their work, we can add in the effect of industrial action.

On the 11th January 2023, the Public and Commercial Services Union said that there would be a strike on 1st February affecting Land Registry and Legal Aid Agency staff. This is, in common with other public sector workers, due to pay, pension and job security frustrations in a time where inflation had risen to nearly 11%.

This industrial action was the largest civil service strike in years, with 100,000 members on the picket line. Industrial action of this magnitude was bound to have an impact on the land registry process, particularly if repeated. The vast majority of applications were already experiencing delays, and industrial action only exacerbated these issues.

Your move is worth the wait

We hope this gives some insight into issues that make the process of property transactions and buying a new home seem lengthy.

With chains, searches, the Land Registry, and industrial action on top, it’s not a quick process – but when you’re done, your property ownership is finally secure.

You can speed up the process by engaging your conveyancing solicitor early in the process. Contact us for your conveyancing quotation from our expert property solicitors.

Or visit one of our local branches for help in person, we have branches in Braintree, Brighton, Croydon, Chelmsford, Hornchurch, Solihull, and Wickford.