HM Land Registry, the office that keeps the land register for England and Wales, opened two consultations on 27 October. The first concerns fees, the second access to data. Both run until 22 December 2026.
Today most registration fees depend on the value of the property. According to the office, this value can be hard to establish, which leads to extra queries and delays. Land Registry proposes a simpler system for so-called Scale Two fees. These cover transfers of property without payment or below market value, and registering a mortgage. The announcement does not yet give new amounts.
The second consultation concerns data. At present all entries are public, but most have to be bought one by one, at £7 per PDF. The office wants to give everyone – individuals, businesses and local groups – free access to maps showing who owns most land in England and Wales. This will not, however, include information about most ordinary homeowners.
Public bodies would have free access to all entries, including residential ones. So would researchers, regulators and investigative journalists – where they show a public interest and meet the rules for safe use of the data.
What it means for you
If you are buying a flat, transferring a house to a child or taking out a mortgage, simpler fees could cut the paperwork. Polish construction firms, developers and agents will gain free insight into who owns land for investment. The privacy of ordinary homeowners is to remain protected.
Our assessment
For now these are proposals, not decisions. Without the new amounts it is not clear whether anyone will pay more. Free ownership maps are, however, a real help for small firms that now spend money on individual extracts. We think it is worth having your say, especially if you work in property.
What to do
- Read and comment on the consultation on new fees.
- Submit comments on the consultation on access to data.
- Planning to buy or transfer a home? Ask your solicitor whether the changes could affect your timetable.
Source: HM Land Registry, GOV.UK – New consultations launched on future of fees and access to data (27 October 2026).
We assess factual corrections and substantive responses. Verified changes are reflected in our reporting.
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