HM Land Registry opened consultations Oct. 27 on free mapped ownership data for most land in England and Wales and a simpler fee structure, changes that could make property records easier to use. The agency maintains the official property register for England and Wales.
One consultation asks whether the public should be able to view maps showing ownership across most of the country, alongside related title details. The proposal would omit information about most ordinary homeowners from general access while extending free access to the complete register for specified users.
Public-sector bodies would be able to view all titles, including residential records. Academics, regulators and investigative journalists could also qualify for free access if they demonstrate a public-interest purpose and meet requirements for safe use and publication.
HM Land Registry says individual titles are already available to the public, with most obtained separately for £7 each. Bulk ownership data is available for the 16% of titles held by corporate bodies. The agency’s 2023-24 annual report counted more than 26.7 million titles, covering over 89% of the land area in England and Wales.
A separate consultation would simplify “Scale Two” fees. They apply to certain property transfers where no money changes hands or the amount paid is below market value, as well as to mortgage registrations. The agency says value-based charges can be difficult to calculate in some cases, leading it to seek more information and delaying applications.
HM Land Registry said it issued about 141,000 written and telephone fee-related requisitions in 2023, according to its 2024 call for evidence. It says easier access to ownership data could help housebuilders, businesses, communities and public bodies, while the agency is also weighing privacy risks and potential effects on its revenue.
“Information held by HM Land Registry is crucial in helping us make smarter decisions on how land is used,” Baroness Taylor, the minister for housing and local government, said.
Both consultations close Dec. 22. HM Land Registry plans to publish a full response to each shortly afterward, but has not specified a response date.
