How long should Land Registry take?

[user0512]

AIBU to think that almost a year of waiting for Land Registry papers to come through is too long?

My parents purchased a house (cash, no mortgage) last year in June.

They've still not been given the Land Registry paperwork (deeds I think they're called) and it's almost been a year?

The solicitors keep stating that there's a delay due to Covid.

Is this true?

Your parents could phone the Land Registry to ask. At the very least they could ask about Covid delays

Mine has taken 3 years!
We have complained so many times. They say can only expedite it if it’s holding up a house sale/purchase.

Yes it’s true. If there are reasons why they need the register updated and paperwork issued quicker they can (or their solicitors can) request this (online - they call it a request to “expedite” transaction). However there would need to be a reason why the delay is causing hardship (eg they want to move again and land registry inaction is delaying that).

Land Registry are taking forever with new builds/transfers of part especially. They were taking a long time with others as well though. Illogically some newer ones are being returned sooner.

Thanks everyone. I was panicking.

Does this mean that it's normal for my parents name not to show up when I search the property on the online HM Land Registry service until the papers have been sent out?

Yes it’s normal. There are delays in updating the register so names won’t appear until it’s complete. They can do within a few days if there was legitimate reason why the register not being updated sooner would cause then hardship.

We bought a house in March last year and the paperwork from the Land Registry arrived in late Feb this year. I think it was almost a year to the day.

Yes I bought my leasehold ie made it a freehold over a year ago and not received anything.

If it is a transfer of whole it should be completed soon. Once the application is made it has priority so no one else can go on the register before them. Phone their customer team for an update if you are getting no joy with the solicitors . Is there a restriction requiring a certificate on their register? This can cause massive delays trying to get the management companies to provide them. Their name won't appear on the register until the application is completed.

I would ask your solicitors if they have had a requisition letter from land registry as they may have not acted to sort out any errors in the application.

We completed in September, got the papers in January.

I would ask your solicitors if they have had a requisition letter from land registry
This - the delay might be due to your solicitor not replying to a query from LR