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, covering how the organisation performed and what it plans next. It is not a procurement policy document — it sets no new procurement rules or contract award criteria for suppliers. However, it contains several facts that are directly useful to small businesses that use HMLR services: conveyancers, property developers, PropTech start-ups and anyone buying or selling property. Key changes include HMLR now accepting Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) on property deeds, a major upgrade to its digital portal and Business Gateway APIs (application programming interfaces), the publication for the first time of firm-level avoidable requisition data, and an expanding free training programme. A public consultation on fee changes is planned, with any new fees expected no earlier than late 2027. The document applies to England and Wales only.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For small conveyancing firms, the publication of firm-level avoidable requisition data is the most immediate operational signal — 33% of professional customers already reduced their error rates once they could see their own data, and HMLR is expanding training specifically targeting common avoidable mistakes. PropTech SMEs have a concrete growth pathway through the Geovation Accelerator Programme, which has backed 54 start-ups to date using HMLR data. Fee changes are coming but not before late 2027 and will be consulted on, so there is time to plan; the direction is simplification rather than an overall income increase.
1. Look up your firm's avoidable requisition data on GOV.UK and identify your most common error types, then book free HMLR training workshops to address them.
Small conveyancing firms and property solicitors submitting applications to HMLR — HMLR has published firm-level requisition data for the first time and 55% of customers were unaware of the free training hub; 33% of professional customers who engaged with the data reduced their error rates.
2. Investigate whether your case management or platform provider supports Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and plan to adopt them — they remove the need for a witness and are now accepted by HMLR.
Conveyancers and lenders considering digital signing — HMLR formally accepted QES from August 2025 and expects it to become standard; Nationwide Building Society has already submitted a mortgage using QES, signalling market readiness.
3. Watch for the new online service (due 2026-27) that will let you request, pay for and download official copies and title plans digitally rather than by post.
Small businesses and sole traders who manage their own property registrations — HMLR has committed to launching this service in 2026-27, which will remove the need for paper-based requests for citizens and small businesses.
4. Respond to HMLR's forthcoming public fee consultation (expected 2026-27) to influence the simplification of the fee structure ahead of changes due no earlier than late 2027.
All customers currently paying HMLR fees — HMLR confirmed a public consultation is planned and that changes are aimed at simplification rather than increasing overall income — early engagement gives small firms a voice.
5. Apply to the Geovation Accelerator Programme (co-funded by HMLR and Ordnance Survey) and register interest in the new HMLR API sandbox testing environment.
PropTech and legal technology SMEs building tools for the property market — The programme has backed 54 start-ups to date; the new sandbox will make it easier for developers to connect with HMLR services, and the Financial Times listed Geovation in the top 150 European start-up hubs in 2026.
6. Engage with HMLR's specialist services for housebuilders — including early visibility of sites and upfront resolution of ownership and legal issues — to accelerate planning and delivery timelines.
Property developers and housebuilders working on new sites — HMLR is actively developing specialised services for housebuilders in support of the Government's 1.5 million homes ambition, and is working with MHCLG and Homes England to reduce friction.
7. Sign up for HMLR's free Property Alert service to receive instant notifications of any application to change your property's records.
Any property owner — including small business owners with commercial premises — Active Property Alert accounts rose 14.6% to over 900,000; HMLR prevented over £63 million in fraudulent registrations last year, and the service is free.
8. Use HMLR's free expedite (fast-track) service if a registration delay is causing legal, financial or personal problems — 95.6% of fast-tracked applications are processed within 10 working days.
Conveyancers and developers with applications stuck in the HMLR queue — HMLR processed around 424,000 fast-tracked applications last year at this performance level; the criteria are met whenever a delay is causing demonstrable problems.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
HMLR now accepts applications signed using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), removing the need for a witness when executing a deed. (All conveyancers and lenders submitting applications to HMLR in England and Wales, from August 2025.)
“In August, following rigorous preparation and close collaboration with platform providers and early adopters, 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.”
HMLR publishes firm-level avoidable requisition data for the first time; 33% of professional customers reduced their avoidable requisition rates after data was shared. (All professional customers (conveyancers and law firms) submitting applications to HMLR.)
“The results showed real momentum: 33% of professional customers reduced their avoidable requisition rates.”
Avoidable requisitions cost the property sector an estimated £17 million annually; around 108,000 fewer requisition letters were issued last year. (All professional customers submitting applications to HMLR in England and Wales.)
“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 offers free training workshops; 55% of customers were unaware of them, and more than 6,450 people have now attended. (All professional customers (conveyancers, law firms) using HMLR services.)
“Our Customer Heartbeat survey revealed that 55% of our customers were unaware of the free training we offer... More than 6,450 people have attended these sessions.”
New online services for citizens and small businesses to request, pay for and download official copies and title plans digitally are planned for 2026-27. (Citizens and small businesses requesting official copies and title plans from HMLR.)
“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's fee and charging structure is planned for next year (2026-27), with any changes expected to come into effect no earlier than late 2027. (All customers paying HMLR fees 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.”
The direction of the fee review is simplification rather than an overall income increase. (All customers paying HMLR fees in England and Wales.)
“we continued to review our fees and charging structure, aiming to simplify it rather than increase overall income.”
HMLR's free expedite (fast-track) service processed 95.6% of around 424,000 fast-tracked applications within 10 working days. (Any applicant where a delay in registration is causing legal, financial or personal problems.)
“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.”
50% of post-completion applications to change land and property ownership were completed and returned within 8 days. (All applicants submitting register change applications to HMLR in England and Wales.)
“Last year, we completed over 4 million post-completion applications to change land and property ownership, with 50% completed and returned to the customer within 8 days.”
The age of the oldest 95% of outstanding applications (across major types) has been reduced from nearly 20 months (2023) to under 9 months by end of March 2026. (All applicants with outstanding applications at HMLR in England and Wales.)
“We successfully achieved our target of reducing the age of outstanding applications waiting to be processed (age of 95% of each major application type) from nearly 20 months (in 2023) to under 9 months.”
The Geovation Accelerator Programme has supported 54 PropTech start-ups to date, co-funded by HMLR and Ordnance Survey since 2017. (PropTech SMEs and start-ups seeking access to HMLR data and support.)
“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 Local Land Charges (LLC) national register is now targeted for completion by the end of the 2028-29 financial year (revised from an earlier date). (Local authorities migrating to the LLC Register and customers who rely on LLC search results 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.”
The LLC Register has so far saved customers over £4.5 million in search fees and an average of 13 days per search, covering 147 of 331 local authorities. (Property buyers, conveyancers and lenders conducting local land charges searches in England and Wales.)
“Saved customers over £4.5 million in search fees... Saved users an average of 13 days to obtain an LLC search result... Migrated more than 9 million charges from 147 local authorities to the register.”
A new API platform with a 'sandbox' testing environment is being built to make it easier for software developers to connect with HMLR services. (PropTech and legal technology SMEs developing software that connects to HMLR services.)
“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, new digital application checks via Business Gateway APIs could save an estimated 300,000 hours a year currently lost to avoidable administrative processes. (Conveyancers and software developers using HMLR Business Gateway 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.
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