Conveyancing Alliance slams Land Registry fee increases

A new Land Registration Fee Order which came into force last week led to an increase for all Land Registry fees. Most fees are now more expensive by upwards of 25%.

Scale 1 fee for a property of £250,000 has increased by £60 from £220 to £280. A Scale 2 fee for a property of the same amount has increased by £20 from £70 to £90. Information Services for inspection, official copy and official search have all been increased often by a third. There will now be a fee payable for all searches of the index map including those which do not reveal a title number.

The Land Registry has justified the fee increases by citing the downturn in the property market and the deterioration in the economy as having impacted its intake of work leading to an unsustainable reduction in its fee income'. saying it is the only way it can cover its operating costs.

However, the Conveyancing Alliance believe both the timing and the actual increase of many fees cannot be justified at a time when the property market is in the doldrums and many home purchasers are having to dig even deeper to buy their homes.

Harpal Singh, managing director of Conveyancing Alliance, said: "However, given the fragile state of the property market, we must question is now really the time to be adding to the burden of those wanting to purchase homes? At the very least the Land Registry could have postponed the fee increases. Let's not forget that many people are already struggling to save money for a property purchase and the many other costs that come with a house move. These increases affect everyone - both buyers and sellers."