HM Land Registry Annual Report and Accounts 2025 to 2026 · first published 15 July 2026
This is HM Land Registry's (HMLR) annual report for 2025–26. It is not a procurement policy document — it is an operational and financial performance report covering how HMLR ran its land registration, data, fraud prevention and digital transformation activities over the year. For small businesses involved in property transactions (conveyancers, developers, PropTech firms, lenders), it signals several practical changes: HMLR now accepts Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), removing the need for a witness when signing deeds; new online services for citizens and small businesses to request official copies and title plans digitally are coming in 2026–27; and a public fee consultation is planned for 2026, with new charges expected later in 2027. The document also highlights free training, avoidable requisition data published by firm, and the Geovation Accelerator Programme supporting PropTech start-ups. This is not a government procurement policy — it does not set supplier selection criteria, weighting rules or contract thresholds.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For small conveyancing firms, PropTech businesses and property developers, this report signals a window of opportunity: HMLR is actively publishing firm-level avoidable requisition data and offering free training, meaning smaller firms that engage now can measurably improve their application quality and reduce costly delays. The Geovation Accelerator Programme is an accessible, co-funded route for PropTech SMEs to gain access to HMLR data, expert mentorship and a network — 54 start-ups have already benefited. The planned fee consultation in 2026 (changes expected 2027) is one to watch and respond to, as fee restructuring could affect transaction economics for smaller firms operating on thin margins.
1. Look up your firm's avoidable requisition data on GOV.UK and sign up for HMLR's free training workshops and one-to-one application quality meetings to reduce errors and speed up completions.
Small conveyancing firms and law firms submitting applications to HMLR — HMLR published firm-level avoidable requisition data for the first time in 2025–26, and 33% of professional customers who engaged reduced their error rates. The training is free, and 55% of customers were unaware it existed.
2. Start preparing to adopt Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for deed execution — engage with QES platform providers now and review HMLR's guidance on early adopter support.
Conveyancers and lenders of any size transacting property in England and Wales — HMLR began accepting QES applications in August 2025 and expects QES to become standard. Early adopters receive dedicated HMLR support; Nationwide Building Society has already submitted the first QES mortgage application.
3. Apply to the Geovation Accelerator Programme (co-funded by HMLR and Ordnance Survey) to access HMLR datasets, expert mentorship and a PropTech peer network.
PropTech start-ups and small software businesses in the property sector — The programme has supported 54 start-ups to date, providing access to title register data, title extent polygons and expert challenge. The Financial Times listed Geovation in the top 150 start-up hubs in Europe in 2026.
4. Monitor HMLR's new API sandbox environment launch and engage early to test integrations that could reduce pre-submission errors for conveyancer clients.
PropTech developers and software firms building conveyancing or property tools — HMLR is building a new API platform with a sandbox testing environment specifically to make it easier for software developers to connect and build better tools, with potential to save 300,000 hours per year in administrative delays by 2028.
5. Register for HMLR's free Property Alert service to receive notifications of any application to change your property's register entry, as a safeguard against fraud.
All businesses and individuals who own property — Property Alert prevented over £63 million of fraudulent applications in 2025–26. The service is free and accounts rose 14.6% this year — but over 100,000 properties remain unprotected.
6. Respond to HMLR's planned public fee consultation in 2026 to ensure your firm's interests are represented before new charges come into effect in 2027.
All users of HMLR services — conveyancers, developers, lenders, PropTech firms — HMLR confirmed a public consultation on its fee and charging structure in 2026, with changes expected later in 2027. The document states the aim is simplification rather than increasing overall income, but the outcome will affect transaction costs.
7. Engage with HMLR's specialist services for housebuilders — gaining early visibility of sites and resolving ownership and legal issues upfront — to support faster delivery of new housing.
Property developers and housebuilders working on large or complex sites — HMLR stated it is 'developing specialised services for housebuilders – gaining early visibility of sites and resolving ownership and legal issues upfront – enabling faster delivery of new housing' aligned with the Government's 1.5 million homes ambition.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
HMLR now accepts applications signed using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), the most secure form of electronic signature, removing the need for a witness when executing a deed. (All conveyancers, lenders and property transaction parties in England and Wales, from August 2025.)
“we were ready to accept applications signed using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), marking a landmark moment in the digitalisation of property transactions in England and Wales”
New online services allowing citizens and small businesses to request, pay for and download official copies and title plans digitally (rather than by post) are being introduced in 2026–27. (Citizens and small businesses transacting property in England and Wales, from 2026–27.)
“For citizens and small businesses we're committed to introducing new online services in 2026-27 that allow them to request official copies and title plans digitally rather than by post.”
A public consultation on HMLR fees will be held in 2026, with new fee changes expected to come into effect later in 2027. (All users of HMLR services in England and Wales.)
“Next year we will hold a public consultation which will then inform the final changes – expected to come into effect later in 2027.”
HMLR published firm-level avoidable requisition data for the first time in 2025–26; 33% of professional customers reduced their avoidable requisition rates as a result. (Conveyancing and law firms submitting applications to HMLR in England and Wales.)
“Six months later we published this data on GOV.UK, with the support of regulators and industry bodies. The results showed real momentum: 33% of professional customers reduced their avoidable requisition rates.”
HMLR sends around 800,000 requisition requests each year, at an estimated cost to the property sector of around £17 million annually; last year 108,000 fewer requisition letters were issued. (All professional applicants (conveyancers, law firms) submitting applications to HMLR.)
“Typically, we send around 800,000 requests each year, at an estimated cost to the property sector of around £17 million annually. Last year around 108,000 fewer requisition letters were issued”
HMLR's free expedite (fast-track) service processed 95.6% of around 424,000 fast-tracked applications as far as possible within 10 working days in 2025–26. (All applicants eligible for HMLR's free expedite service.)
“We received around 424,000 fast-tracked applications last year and consistently processed 95.6% of these as far as possible within 10 working days.”
The Geovation Accelerator Programme has supported 54 PropTech start-ups to date with HMLR data and expertise; it is co-funded by HMLR and Ordnance Survey since 2017. (PropTech start-ups and small businesses in England and Wales.)
“Since 2017 we have worked alongside Ordnance Survey to co-fund the Geovation Accelerator Programme, supporting PropTech (property technology) start-ups with our data and expertise. To date, we have supported 54 PropTech start-ups.”
The national Local Land Charges (LLC) Register completion target has been revised to the end of the 2028–29 financial year to prioritise data quality. (All property buyers, conveyancers and developers in England and Wales.)
“We have therefore revised the target completion date for the register to the end of the 2028–29 financial year, so we can prioritise data quality and accuracy over speed of delivery.”
HMLR's free training hub on GOV.UK is underused — 55% of customers were unaware of it; over 6,450 people attended free workshops in 2025–26. (All professional applicants, including conveyancing and law firms.)
“Our Customer Heartbeat survey revealed that 55% of our customers were unaware of the free training we offer, a finding that prompted us to build awareness of our training hub on GOV.UK and expand our programme of free workshops. More than 6,450 people have attended these sessions”
HMLR's free Property Alert service had more than 900,000 active accounts by end of 2025–26, a 14.6% rise from 2024–25, and prevented fraudulent applications worth over £63 million. (All property owners in England and Wales.)
“the number of active Property Alert accounts has risen by 14.6% since 2024-25 to more than 900,000 by the end of 2025-26”
A new API platform with a 'sandbox' testing environment is being built to make it easier for software developers to connect with HMLR services and develop tools for conveyancers. (PropTech developers and software firms building conveyancing tools.)
“We began work on a new API platform, with a 'sandbox' testing environment, which will make it easier for software developers to connect with our services and develop better tools for conveyancers.”
By 2028, HMLR's new digital application checks via Business Gateway APIs could save an estimated 300,000 hours a year currently lost to unnecessary administrative processes. (Conveyancers and firms using Business Gateway-enabled APIs.)
“By 2028, this could save an estimated 300,000 hours a year waiting for an unnecessary administrative process and instead lessen customer pain points and provide trusted upfront information.”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.