Homebuyers may notice a change in the cost of making HM Land Registry applications from next year after it was revealed that fees would increase for the first time since 2009.
The move will affect applications for first registration, as well as for the registration of transfers, leases, and mortgages of property.
The average fee will increase by 11% for electronic applications, and by around 21% for those submitted by post.
For example, the cost of a Scale 1 application for a property valued at between £500,001 and £1 million will increase from £540 to £655, while transfers or surrenders which affect the whole of a registered title for the same property will increase from £270 to £295.
The changes also introduce a specific reference to the fee for applications for an entry relating to Right to Manage companies under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, new fees for obtaining historical copies of the register, and a new exemption for requests to note disclaimers of properties made by liquidators, the Treasury Solicitor, and trustees in bankruptcy.
The changes will come into effect from 31 January 2022.
Commenting on the changes, an HM Land Registry spokesperson said: “The fee increase allows HM Land Registry to move forward with plans to deliver what customers need – more consistency and speed in service delivery by investing in both operational capacity and accelerating the digitalisation and automation of services.”
The full list of fees can be found here.
More information about registering land or property with HM Land Registry can be found here.
For help and advice with related matters, please get in touch with our Branch Manager, Emma Wallington, at emma@brookings.co.uk.
