What the Land Registry does and why registration matters
HM Land Registry is the government body responsible for keeping a definitive record of property ownership in England and Wales. When you buy a home, Land Registry updates the title register to show you as the new registered proprietor. This public register is the legal proof of ownership: it records who owns the land, any mortgages (charges) secured against it, and any rights or restrictions affecting the property such as easements, covenants and overriding interests.
Registration is not just an administrative formality. Under the Land Registration Act 2002, a transfer of ownership must be registered to be legally effective. Until registration is complete, legal ownership has not technically passed even though you have completed your purchase. Your conveyancer submits the application promptly after completion to close this gap; most electronic applications are processed within a few weeks, though complex cases or first registrations of unregistered land can take longer.
Scotland has its own register (Registers of Scotland) and its own fee structure. Northern Ireland uses Land Registry of Northern Ireland. If you are buying outside England or Wales, different rules and fees apply.
HM Land Registry fee scale for property transfers (2026)
Fees apply to transfers of ownership (sales and purchases). Electronic submission is the standard route and costs significantly less than postal applications.
| Property price | Electronic (online) fee | Postal fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £80,000 | £20 | £45 |
| £80,001 to £100,000 | £40 | £95 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £100 | £230 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £150 | £330 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £295 | £655 |
| Over £1,000,000 | £500 | £1,105 |
Fees correct at June 2026. HM Land Registry reviews its fee schedule periodically; your conveyancer will confirm the current fee before completion.
Electronic versus postal applications
Since the Land Registry launched its online portal (known as the Business Gateway and, for searches, the HM Land Registry portal), conveyancers submit virtually all applications electronically. The electronic fee is roughly half the postal rate at every price band. A property selling for £350,000 costs £150 to register electronically but £330 by post. There is no practical reason for a conveyancer to use the postal route for a standard purchase, so you should expect to pay the lower electronic rate.
Electronic applications are also processed faster. Standard digital applications are typically completed within 10 to 20 working days, though Land Registry is subject to processing backlogs at busy periods. First registrations (where the property has never previously been registered) and applications involving complex title issues take longer and are usually handled by post or as a specialist digital application.
First registration and unregistered land
Around 14% of land in England and Wales is still unregistered, meaning it has not yet been entered on the Land Registry title register. This is more common with older properties, rural land and some commercial premises that have not changed hands since compulsory registration was introduced in the area.
When unregistered land is sold, it must be registered for the first time. First registration carries the same fee scale as a transfer of registered land, but the application is more complex because the conveyancer must deduce title from deeds and documents going back at least 15 years rather than simply producing a copy of the existing register. This adds to conveyancing time and cost but is a one-off process: once registered, all future dealings are straightforward.
HM Land Registry offers a voluntary first registration option at a reduced fee (currently 50% of the standard scale) to encourage owners of unregistered land to register before any sale. If you own unregistered land, registering voluntarily simplifies any future sale or remortgage and protects your title.
Where Land Registry fees sit in your total buying costs
Land Registry registration is one of several completion costs to budget for when buying a home:
- Stamp duty land tax (SDLT in England, LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales): usually the largest single cost, based on the purchase price.
- Solicitor or conveyancer fees for the legal work, typically £1,000 to £2,500 plus VAT depending on complexity.
- Property search fees (local authority, drainage and water, environmental): typically £250 to £500 in total.
- Mortgage arrangement fees and lender valuation fees (if applicable).
- Land Registry registration fee: £20 to £500 depending on the property price (electronic rate).
- Survey costs: from around £300 for a basic condition report to £700 or more for a full structural survey.
- Electronic ID verification, bank transfer and other disbursements.
Other Land Registry charges you might encounter
Beyond registering a purchase, HM Land Registry charges small fees for other transactions and information services. An official copy of the title register (the document that shows who owns a property, any mortgages and key restrictions) costs £3 per register or title plan online, a few pounds well spent when checking ownership before making an offer or verifying boundaries.
Registering a transfer of equity, which involves adding or removing someone from the legal title (for example, after a separation or marriage), attracts a fee on the same scale as a purchase, based on the equity value transferred. If no money changes hands the fee is set at the lowest band. Your conveyancer will advise on the applicable fee for your specific situation.
Registering a new mortgage charge (on a remortgage) carries a separate fee, currently a flat £20 per charge submitted electronically, charged by the lender's solicitor and usually included in the remortgage legal costs. Releasing (removing) a mortgage after repayment is free of charge.
Your conveyancer handles the registration for you
You do not need to contact HM Land Registry yourself when buying a home. Your conveyancer submits the registration electronically after completion and includes the fee in your completion statement alongside stamp duty and other disbursements. Check the statement before completion to confirm the Land Registry fee is listed at the correct amount for your purchase price, so there are no surprises.