HM Land Registry Releases New Data on Avoidable Requisitions to Reduce Delays

HM Land Registry has unveiled its latest dataset on avoidable requisitions, providing conveyancers and law firms with vital information to enhance the quality of their applications and mitigate delays in registration processes. This third dataset, covering the period from 1 April to 30 September 2026, aims to assist firms in identifying and addressing errors and omissions that commonly lead to registration setbacks.

Recent analysis by HM Land Registry indicates a significant decline in avoidable requisition points, with around 400,000 fewer instances recorded in 2025 compared to 2022—marking a remarkable reduction of 47.7%. This positive trend is a collective achievement, reflecting the collaborative efforts of conveyancers, post-completion teams, industry bodies, and HM Land Registry itself.

Understanding Avoidable Requisitions

A requisition is defined as a request for additional information or action necessary to complete an application. Avoidable requisition points typically arise from preventable errors or omissions, such as absent identity evidence, name discrepancies, unclear plans, or missing supporting documents. Notably, a single requisition may encompass multiple points.

Overall, the number of annual avoidable requisition points decreased from approximately 839,000 in 2022 to 439,000 in 2025, representing a 47.7% reduction. When adjusted for application volumes, the rate of avoidable requisitions fell by 39.1%, highlighting that the improvement was not solely due to a decrease in application numbers.

From January to September 2026, the trend of improvement continued, with an average of 94 avoidable points raised per 1,000 applications—an 11% decrease in comparison to 2025. This ongoing progress underscores the importance of collaboration across the industry to enhance application quality.

Encouraging Ongoing Improvements

Andrew Robertson, Head of Customer Policy at HM Land Registry, emphasised the importance of collective efforts in achieving these results. He stated that reducing avoidable requisitions is a shared accomplishment and encouraged firms to leverage their data to pinpoint recurring issues. By focusing checks and training in areas that will have the most significant impact, the industry can continue to build on its achievements.

Despite the advancements made, challenges remain. The most prevalent broad category of avoidable requisitions is now attributed to missing or unclear information, with the absence of identity evidence identified as the most frequent individual issue. HM Land Registry is urging firms to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind their requisitions and to utilise those insights to enhance their pre-submission checks.

Accessing Resources and Support

HM Land Registry offers a variety of free guidance, workshops, and training resources to help firms navigate these challenges effectively. Continuous efforts are also underway within HM Land Registry to improve the accuracy and consistency of requisitions issued. For further information and access to the third avoidable requisitions dataset, firms are encouraged to explore the available resources.

In summary, while the trend of reducing avoidable requisitions is encouraging, ongoing vigilance and collaboration are essential to maintain and further improve application quality within the sector.