Property and conveyancing
HM Land Registry:
rising to the current challenges
HM Land Registry describes how it has risen to the challenges presented to providing its services by the global pandemic.
About the author: Eddie Davies is HMLR Deputy Director - Digital Services.2020 has presented challenges for people and businesses in a way that has not been seen for a long time. HM Land Registry (HMLR) has not been exempt from this and we have had to rise to the challenges presented to us. It has become clear that, increasingly, our digital services are of critical importance, as the property and conveyancing industries also adapt to the new ways in which we all work.
A portal to time saved
HM Land Registry’s portal, where 74% of our applications are made, has been crucial in enabling us to receive and process applications. We had already begun work on several new enhancements to this vital service before the pandemic, and these improvements now seem more important than ever.
On 10 August, we were pleased to roll out our latest portal enhancement to all customers. View My Applications (VMA) allows portal users to search, view and filter applications submitted through the portal, along with the latest correspondence (notice, requisitions and letters) from one central place. The accessible, user-friendly interface makes it simpler, easier and quicker to access information. Users can check the status of their applications and download the relevant documentation in one place.
Liz Lennox from Taylor Rose was one of the early adopters of the service. She said: ‘VMA allows instant clarity and speedy confirmation of applications in progress. It makes providing updates just that bit quicker and enables better customer service. The fact that it also includes the related documents is a godsend!’
VMA can be accessed from the left-hand menu within the portal. More information is available on our guidance page.
We have also begun making another enhancement available to users. Digital Registration Service (DRS) will be available to all users later this year. The service simplifies the way customers submit applications to us, validating the data to eliminate the need to send out requests for further information. Starting with our most common form - the AP1 - it will eventually include and supersede the other types of applications that can currently be submitted through the portal.
Feedback has been positive, and we are using this to inform our development before we open it up to all users later this year. This video on our YouTube channel shows how the service will work.
These enhancements have been made by working in close partnership with our customers. We will continue to explore and develop ways to make it even faster and simpler to access, process and submit applications with HMLR – no matter what challenges we all face.