The Land Registry’s Switch to Digital

The Land Registry has changed significantly over the years and one of their biggest changes yet is on the horizon.

Many of us are moving away from paper-based processes and towards digital processes. The Land Registry is also embracing this change and from November 2022 it is moving to the new E-AP1 process.

In the past, CTT Group along with many other businesses relied on paper-based processes. However, the Covid-19 pandemic changed how many of us work, especially with technology, due to the restrictions that were in place at the time. At CTT Group, we are constantly working to improve our processes and keep up with the changes to technology.

The Land Registry’s switch to digital

Previously, after being signed by the applicants, the paper AP1 would have had to be scanned and uploaded to the Land Registry portal by the lodging party in order for the title to be updated. The AP1 form is designed to give the Land Registry the relevant information about the application being lodged, such as a transfer.

From November 2022, most applications to update titles will be made digitally, with the Land Registry’s all new ‘E-AP1’ process. This will allow the lodging party to fill out a set of questions on the Land Registry’s online portal which will capture all information that was previously on the paper AP1 forms.

The benefits of the new E-AP1 process

The Land Registry receive many applications daily. To keep up with the high demand, the new E-AP1 process will help users complete their applications quicker by identifying errors sooner. By entering the details into the Land Registry portal directly, rather than uploading a scanned copy of a paper AP1 form, the Land Registry’s system automatically checks this against the title to identify any errors such as spelling mistakes. Furthermore, the system helpfully checks for fee errors.

As the system will now be handling the applications, this will ultimately reduce the number of requisitions and the amount of manual work carried out by staff, speeding up the whole process.

Some companies have already started using the E-AP1 process and the Land Registry have stated that they have already received over 100,000 applications, where basic errors have reduced by 25% and applications have been processed and completed in half the time of an uploaded application.

Commenting on its new E-AP1 process, The Land Registry stated ‘Ultimately, this is what our work on digital applications has been about: improving our speed of service, reducing the backlog, and making application submission quicker and easier.’ Overall, this is a change that should definitely be seen as positive, as this should reduce the backlog and begin to speed up the process of updating Land Registry titles.

Familiarise yourself with the new process

HM Land Registry have shared several articles to help you get ready for the change to digital:

• https://hmlandregistry.blog.gov.uk/2021/10/21/digital-applications-making-the-future-a-reality/
• https://hmlandregistry.blog.gov.uk/2021/11/09/digital-applications-will-be-game-changing-for-you-and-us/
• https://hmlandregistry.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/03/were-accelerating-our-move-towards-digital-applications/

At CTT Group, we offer many courses and webinars to enhance your Estate Planning knowledge, with one of them being the Will Writer to Estate Planner Course. Day 3 of this course focuses on the conveyancing process and will include updates to the new E-AP1 process. Please find the link here to sign up for the next course.