Corporate report

Summary of non-qualifying regulatory provisions: 21 June 2018 to 20 June 2019

Updated 19 December 2022

Applies to England and Wales

Business Impact Target reporting period covered: 21 June 2018 to 20 June 2019

Excluded category	Summary of measure(s), including any impact data where available
Measures certified as being below de minimis (measures with an equivalent annual net direct cost to business (EANDCB) below +/- £5 million)	HM Land Registry considers that most of its changes fall within the de minimis exclusion. Analysis has been undertaken that evidences HM Land Registry’s changes are so significantly below this threshold that further analysis would be disproportionate. In this reporting period HM Land Registry has: • made enhancements to its electronic documents service – change of name applications now (1) require an additional certification to have the authority to make a change, (2) provide more data when relating to a deed poll and (3) allow customers to correct a mistake in the registered proprietor’s name • made an enhancement to the HM Land Registry portal to enable unilateral notice applications against part of a registered title • extended its practice of notifying a mortgage lender applicant where a discharge of whole is received in paper form to all applications following automation of the notice, allowing the lender to object to the application if they consider the discharge to be fraudulent • formalised established practice by accepting a single application form where certain criteria are met for (1) the entry of more than one restriction and (2) the bulk removal of unilateral notices on developing titles • revised a standard request for compliance with one of HM Land Registry’s counter-fraud restrictions with the aim of negating the need for subsequent information to be provided to confirm the identity of the conveyancer certifying • following practice reviews (1) revised the approach to dealing with name discrepancies to make the principle as simple as possible, consistent and clear to both HM Land Registry and its customers and (2) widened the rejection criteria for applications to create new freehold or leasehold titles (first registrations) following successful tests, which led to a reduction in applications that were not in order – the changes were supported by new guidance including updating an application form, checklist and webinars • made more than 50 updates to practice guides (where not covered by another administrative exclusion) to reflect changes and developments in the law and changes to practice and processing, to add new guidance, to remove obsolete information and to clarify/make clearer its processes and requirements to support customers in making applications – in addition, HM Land Registry has revised application forms and standard requisitions and produced checklists and aids to highlight new practice and to assist in the correct lodgement of applications
EU Regulations, Decisions and Directives and other international obligations, including the implementation of the EU Withdrawal Bill and EU Withdrawal Agreement	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Measures certified as concerning EU Withdrawal Bill operability measures	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Pro-competition	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Systemic financial risk	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Civil emergencies	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Fines and penalties	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Misuse of drugs	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Measures certified as relating to the safety of tenants, residents and occupants in response to the Grenfell tragedy	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Casework	Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.
Education, communications and promotion	HM Land Registry has amended: • 9 practice guides and 2 forms requesting approval of documentation to transpose factually changes in legislation by other government departments • 5 practice guides and 1 form requesting approval of documentation to update contact details In addition, promotional material has been produced through webinars, videos and published articles via GOV.UK to promote correct lodgement of applications and highlight practice.
Activity related to policy development	HM Land Registry is trialling further rejection criteria for applications to create new freehold or leasehold titles (first registrations) and has undertaken services pilots to provide customers with support and specialist advice to improve the quality of complex/commercial transactions HM Land Registry receives – these include providing: • an illustrative site plan product based on a title plan result • pre-submission and application management services
Changes to management of regulator	HM Land Registry has changed the name of its Wales Office to Swansea Office (following the past merger of Wales and Swansea offices) to show the merged office does not deal wholly with properties in Wales. It has also made some changes to contact details as a result of internal changes in the organisation.