Land Registry – Not pointing the finger of blame at conveyancers

Land Registry – Not pointing the finger of blame at conveyancers, regarding conveyancing firms and Land Registry registration queries to law firms.

Mike Harlow, the Deputy Chief Land Registrar put out a Land Registry blog on 05.01.2023 regarding conveyancing firms and Land Registry registration queries to law firms (known as ‘requisitions’).

The blog appeared to be critical of conveyancing law firms and it was widely picked up in the legal press and on social media and prompted adverse comment from conveyancing practitioners.

Two experienced property industry professionals, Stuart Forsdike and Lorraine Richardson, recently discussed the blog in their regular You Tube chat, Conveyancing Matters.

They wondered whether the backlash to the blog from the conveyancing community and land registration delays meant that the Land Registry had lost its way.

Stuart and Lorraine were therefore pleased and surprised that Mike Harlow, Deputy Chief Land Registrar, was willing to come on to Conveyancing Matters to chat about his blog and a wide range of other issues.

Mike made it very clear that his comments were not intended to point the finger of blame at conveyancers and he apologised if that is the impression he gave. But the chat was not just about the controversial issues; Mike, Lorraine and Stuart talked about Land Registry innovation, support for conveyancing firms, fraud and a host of other topics.

Stuart said:

“Mike reminded us that the Land Registry has no choice over its workload – it is an organisation that has to deal with whatever is sent to it, whenever it is sent.

“As a law firm owner, I can appreciate how challenging this must be. Mike is a figurehead for the Land Registry and often speaks at conferences to those at the top of conveyancing organisations.

“I hope that conveyancers closer to the coal face will appreciate the chance to hear things about the Land Registry and how it works direct from Mike.”

Lorraine said:

“We are delighted that Mike joined us on Conveyancing Matters.

“He willingly took up a right to reply and answered the challenging questions about Land Registry performance.

“Mike was refreshingly open about the current position of the Land Registry.

“But he also rightly stressed the collaborative approach taken by the Land Registry and every conveyancing firm in the country and their joint contribution to the property industry, the importance of which underpins so much of the UK economy.”