Part 8 Using the Land Registry Portal

Part 8 Using the Land Registry Portal

(Added July 2013)

50.88 The Land Registry Portal

The Land Registry portal offers instant access to Land Registry information and allows for the electronic submission of certain applications through the electronic Document Registration Service (e-DRS), (see paragraph 50.90 for further details of e-DRS). Official receivers are connected to this facility and authorised user access can be granted to staff that require access to Land Registry information as part of their work. Each official receiver’s command has at least one Business Unit Administrator (BUA) who is responsible for maintaining user accounts within the command concerned and is the first point of contact for any Land Registry Portal related queries by staff.  The BUA will act as a contact between the Land Registry and individual offices.

To access the information held on the Land Register the full address of the property is required. Where the full address details are not known the official receiver should continue to use the paper/postal system (See Chapter 50, part 5).  To obtain information through the Portal see paragraph 50.89.

 

50.89 Information Services

Land Registry e-business services users can use the Portal to request information from the Land Register over the internet.  Information that can be obtained include, for example, searches of the index map, official copies of documents, registers and/or title plans.  To carry out searches and request information the ‘Information Services’ tab in the left hand pane of ‘My Portal’ should be selected.  To obtain an official copy of the register the user must provide a title number or at least one of the following:  

  • flat/house number and postcode
  • flat/house number, street and town
  • postcode

Where a document, title view or official copy is available to view immediately a link will be sent to the user taking them to the document requested.  Where the document is not available for download immediately the user will be notified once the document is available (see paragraph 50.98).  The fees chargeable are set out in the Land Registration Fee Order 2012.

 

50.90 Land Registry e-DRS

The Land Registry electronic Document Registration Service (e-DRS) has been introduced to allow users to submit applications to the Land Registry through the Land Registry online transactional service known as ‘the Portal’.  The service can be used for applications affecting up to twenty different title numbers.  The Document Registration Service is accessed through a link in the left hand pane of ‘My Portal Home’.

 

50.91 Making a Land Registry application through the e-DRS

Prior to logging into the Portal the staff member should produce the relevant application and save a PDF version of it to Wisdom.  If any evidence is required to be submitted along with the application (e.g. the bankruptcy order) this should also be scanned or saved as a PDF before logging into the Portal.   Paragraph 50.95 gives guidance on generating PDF documents.

After logging into the Portal (HERE) the following procedure should be followed to make an application- 

  • The Document Registration tab should be selected from the left hand navigation pane of ‘My Portal Home’, 
  • The reference number for the application should be entered (see paragraph 50.97), 
  • The title numbers for the application should be entered, 
  • The application type should be selected from the ‘Application’ box, 
  • The PDF version of the application should be located using the ‘Browse’ button following the ‘File location’ tab, 
  • The appropriate method of certification should then be selected, 
  • The ‘Attach’ button should be selected. 

Where evidence is required in support of an application the guidance at paragraph 50.92 should be followed.  Where a joint application is being made the guidance at paragraph 50.94 should be followed.

 

50.92  Lodging evidence in support of an application

Evidence is lodged in the same way as an application through e-DRS but instead of selecting an application type from the ‘Application’ box the ‘Court Order’ or ‘Evidence’ option should be selected as appropriate.  The file name of the PDF evidence should accurately reflect the nature of the evidence.

 

50.93 Additional information required by the Land Registry

Where an application has been lodged electronically through e-DRS and the Land Registry require further documentation they will send an ‘Electronic Requisition’ using the Land Registry Portal.  Users will be able to view the requisitions within the ‘Notifications’ tab.  The ‘Reply to Requisition’ tab should be used to submit any further documentation required.  It is important that users monitor the Portal closely after an application has been submitted to ensure that the application is progressing appropriately.

 

50.93A Form J applications through e-DRS

(added February 2014)

From 17 March 2014 the fee charged for an application for a Form J restriction submitted (on form RX1) through the e-DRS will be £20 whereas the fee for an equivalent postal application is £40. The e-DRS should therefore be used for all Form J applications apart from when the official receiver does not have the full address of the property. In such circumstances an e-DRS application will not be accepted by the Land Registry and a postal application will have to be made.               

 

50.94 Joint Form J applications through e-DRS

(amended February 2014)

Where two or more bankruptcy estates have an interest in a registered property it is still possible to process a Form J restriction using a single application submission through the e-DRS.  The benefit of this is that only the one set of fees is payable and that is based upon the number of titles affected (i.e. £20 for up to three titles and £10 per additional title).  A separate form RX1 should be completed in respect of each case but the forms should be annotated in the top right hand corner as ‘form 1 of 2’ and ‘form 2 of 2’.  The first form should have the fee paid box of panel 4 detailing the actual fee paid (e.g. £20).  Panel 4 of ‘form 2 of 2’ should state the fee paid is “nil – see form 1 of 2”).  It is important that the fee is allocated appropriately between the two estates so the reference numbers used must be accurate (see paragraph 50.97).   The form RX1 marked ‘form 2 of 2’ will need to be submitted through the eDRS as a supporting document rather than as an application.

  

50.95 Saving a copy of the Land Registry application as a PDF document

All applications submitted to the Land Registry through the e-DRS must be submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF).  A PDF document can be generated by using the normal procedure to print a document but by selecting the printer named ‘PDFCreator’.  When ‘Ok’ is selected a dialogue box will appear and selections will need to be made.  The document should be given an appropriate name and saved to a convenient location so that it may be uploaded to Wisdom.  Any evidence required in support of a Land Registry application (e.g. a bankruptcy order) should be converted to PDF format either using the procedure outlined above or by scanning the paper document as a PDF.

 

50.96 Authorising applications submitted through e-DRS

All Land Registry Portal users within the Service have the required authorisation to submit applications through e-DRS.  To use the system users are required to login to the Portal (HERE).  Local offices will have procedures in place to ensure that the system is being used appropriately and the Business Delivery Team - Operations will conduct audits regarding the efficiency of the process.

Insolvency Service Land Registry Portal Users are authorised to submit applications through e-DRS so applications do not require signing or dating in order to be accepted as it is understood that the registered user submitting the document will have sufficient authority to make the application.  The Business Unit Administrator has the required access to monitor and review all applications submitted and will form part of the locally implemented system of monitoring and control.

 

50.97 Reference numbers for applications submitted through e-DRS

There has been no change to the reference numbers required when submitting documents electronically than what is used when paper applications are made.  It is important that the reference used allows Estate Account & Insolvency Practitioner Services (EAIPS) to properly identify the case and the office who made the application (e.g. BKT00885685-LTADT ). Where an application for a Form J restriction is made jointly in respect of a jointly owned property where both owners are bankrupt It is important that the fee is apportioned correctly (i.e. 50/50) between the two estates.  For this to be done correctly the reference in box 7 of both forms should refer to both bankruptcy estates, the official receiver’s office making the application and also identifying that the application as a joint one. (e.g.  JNT/BKT00885685/00885730).  This reference cannot exceed 25 characters (including spaces).

 

50.98 Confirmation that an application has been processed

Once an application has been submitted a message will be generated confirming the submission.  A copy of the confirmation message should be saved to Wisdom by selecting ‘Download as PDF’ and then by saving the document as you would any other.  As soon as an application has been  processed by the Land Registry the Portal will be updated to reflect this within the ‘PDF Downloads’ section of the ‘General Facilities’ menu.  Staff should diarise a review date to check that any application submitted via the Portal has/is being progressed appropriately.

 

50.99 Land Registry training material

There are a number of short online training courses available on the Land Registry website.  The training covers: 

The Land Registry Business e-Service Technical Manual - Part 2 is another useful resource on using the Land Registry Portal.

 

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