22 May 2020
LAND REGISTERS REVISED EMERGENCY NOTE TO PRACTITIONERS - 21st MAY 2020
Further to my
note to practitioners of 28th April 2020, I am pleased to advise
that good progress has been made in the processing of the applications for the
7 key services detailed in the note.
Since then, the
new LandWeb Direct service which enables users to top up accounts by card,
amongst other features, has been rolled out to over 50 firms and feedback has
been very positive. All requests for the
topping up of suspense accounts by post and bank transfer are also currently up
to date.
A remote solution
for the registration of applications has also now been rolled out to the
majority of casework staff. Piloting of
the solution requires caseworkers to process in a live environment. Accordingly, a number of existing cases have
been selected for processing and some solicitors will receive confirmation that
applications have been registered.
Alternatively, queries will be raised as appropriate.
In relation to
services going forward, I am pleased to advise:-
1. Solicitors can continue to lodge
applications for the 7 key services.
2. Land Registry will from today accept
correspondence (including objections) for existing cases.
3. The Land Registry telephone line (0300
200 7803) will re-open for calls on 26th May 2020.
4. Preparatory work has been taking place
in relation to priority searches. From 8th June
2020 (“the re-opening date” as per practitioners note of 30th March
2020), the following will apply:-
* Any priority note currently registered
on the Register with an expiry date on or after 25th March 2020,
will have an expiry date of 8th June 2020 in accordance with Rule
188.
* Any priority search application
received in the Registry on or prior to 24th March 2020 but not
yet registered, will have a priority period of 40 working days from 8th June
2020.
* Any priority search application lodged
in the Registry from 25th March 2020, will have a priority period of
40 working days from 8th June 2020.
Draft priority
notes will be entered on to the Register prior to 8th June 2020 to
enable speedy registration from 8th June 2020 and priority search
certificates will start to issue from 8th June 2020.
5. Practitioners are advised that from 8th
June 2020, service for new priority search applications will resume. Solicitors should lodge electronic priority
searches where possible.
6. Land Registry will accept all new
applications for the Land Registry Register from 8th June 2020. In the interim, practitioners may post their
new applications for the Land Registry Register but these will be held and
deemed received on 8th June 2020.
To curb the
spread of coronavirus and support social distancing, the Customer Information
Centre will remain closed at this stage and post will only be accepted by DX
and Royal Mail.
Practitioners
should note that reduced staffing levels to enable social distancing may impact
upon the time required to deal with all transactions. It is therefore imperative that solicitors
lodge accurate applications to enable cases to be dealt with in an efficient
manner.
I would like to
thank all Land Registry staff for all of their hard work both on site and
remotely since 24th March 2020.
I would also like to thank the profession for their patience and
understanding through this difficult period.
CHRISTINE FARRELL
Registrar of
Titles
21st
May 2020
Any issues arising should be sent to
Andrew Kirkpatrick, Head of Non Contentious Business at: andrew.kirkpatrick@lawsoc-ni.org.