Whether our request for expedition has been approved

<span style="font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif;"><strong><span lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;">Enquiry Reference:</span></span></strong><span lang=EN-US style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;"> 251128-5500242 <strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;">Application Reference:</span></strong> N885PCV <strong><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;">Title Number:</span></strong> WA675608</span></span></span></span><br> Hello. My parents are selling their property and both they and the purchasers are keen to complete as soon as possible, but there is a problem with their title as a small area of their land has been included in the neighbour's registered title in error. The solicitor has made an application to correct the registered plan and has requested expedition. This was on 12th November. Is it possible to find out whether this request for expedition has been approved and, if so, what steps have been taken or will now be taken by the Land Registry to further my parents' application?

Hello. I can confirm that the expedition has been approved and processing the application was started on 17 November. We also needed to call for historical files which are held off site. The case has now been referred for the consideration of our in-house lawyers who will advise whether the application can proceed and confirm next steps. They will have a number of urgent referrals to consider so there is likely to be a delay before we can give a further update.<br> <br> I should also mention that this type of application is quite involved and there are number of elements to consider. If the application does proceed, it is also likely that we will need to service notice of the application on the the registered owner of any affected registered estate together with any other person who has an interest and is likely to be affected and allow them time to respond.<br> <br> Your conveyancer will be able to keep track of the application via our business e-services.<br> <br> I am sorry I can't give you a more positive response at this stage, but I hope this of assistance in outlining the position.

Hello. Thank you very much for this. In fact the neighbour who is the current registered owner of the problem area of land indicated that he would cooperate with my parents' application if their solicitor wrote to him confirming a certain right of way, which the solicitor has done. We therefore very much hope that this neighbour will consent to the application once he receives a communication from the Land Registry. Is there any way of speeding up the process so that notice is served on him as soon as possible, given that this should, hopefully, resolve the matter?<br> Thank you.

Hello Karen - before we get to the wider checks/notices referred to our lawyers need to consider the veracity of the claim/application first. The wider checks come after the legal requirements have been met and they have to ensure that the application as made is acceptable before moving to the later stage re checks<br> I have asked the casework team to escalate the referral and that should help to at least identify next steps in the next 48/72 hrs. I would suggest making a note to post again after the weekend for an update and we can check again for you<br> WA675608

Thank you very much for this. I will check again after the weekend as you suggest.

Karen - the casework team have contacted the conveyancer with regards their application. You will need to speak to the conveyancer to confirm and to clarify matters as appropriate<br> WA675608

<p>Hello. Thank you for your assistance with this. Our solicitor has now resubmitted the application based on adverse possession, as suggested by the casework team. Are you able to confirm that this revised application has been received? Assuming it has, will the casework team be able to continue to deal it quickly?</p> <p>Thank you.&#160;</p>

Hello Karen - the conveyancer has submitted 'more' so that now needs to be considered by a senior technician and next steps decided upon. As the case is an expedite that will happen asap but such applications are rarely completed swiftly as more is required.<br> The more, if all now submitted is adequate includes a site visit/survey by Ordnance Survey and/or wider checks including contacting the registered owner(s) of the land being claimed. If those steps are required then you can expect a lengthy wait as OS tend to report back within 2 weeks once arranged and the wider checks have a 65 day lifespan unless the recipient(s) respond sooner and positively<br> Make a note to check for an update later next week and we can see if next steps have been confirmed or not&#160;<br> WA675608

Hello again. I wonder if there is anything you can do to escalate this again. I'm sorry to have to ask, but our solicitors are closed between 23rd December and 2nd January, so if there is anything more that they need to do they won't be able to do it between those times. Quite apart from that my parents are extremely concerned that their buyers might pull out because of the amount of time this is all taking. Obviously I realise that there are time-consuming further steps that need to be taken, so the sooner those can be put in train the more quickly the situation will be resolved.<br> Thank you.

Hello again Karen - the casework team have gone back to the conveyancer today in response to their own enquiry&#160;<br> Part of that contact has explained how a survey/site visit will be required but instructions for that won't be issued until they have responded in full.&#160;<br> WA675608&#160;

<p>Thank you. Apparently the only contact the solicitor has had is an email saying that more fees are needed but without specifying how much, so he has asked what the amount is. He hasn't received anything about a site visit.</p>

<p>Hello again. I understand that the solicitors have now authorised the additional fees to be taken from their credit account. Will the Land Registry lawyer be able to look at this very soon? If the necessary steps could be put in train before Christmas it would be extremely helpful.</p> <p>Thank you.</p>

Hello again Karen - they replied today so the casework team will review that and if sufficient the next stage will take place as part of the casework process. They will do that asap as it is an expedited application<br> WA675608&#160;

<p>Hello again. My parents and their solicitor had several communications dated 19th December informing them that a survey needs to be carried out by Ordnance Survey. I completed the online survey form on their behalf on 19th December and had an acknowledgment from Ordnance Survey, but so far my parents haven't heard from Ordnance Survey regarding when the survey is likely to take place. One of the 19th December emails to the solicitor suggests that the current registered owner might also need to complete the online survey form, although I'm not sure why this would be the case, given that the land in question is accessed solely via my parents' property. Are you aware whether the current registered owner has been asked to complete the OS survey form?&#160;</p> <p>Thank you.</p>

Hello Karen - We have asked the proprietor of the other title to complete the survey form for Ordnance Survey.&#160; The conveyancer acting for your parents have been informed about our actions.&#160;

<p>Hello. What happens if the proprietor of the other title doesn't complete the form? They have just buried their teenage son and I can't see this being a priority for them.&#160;</p>

Karen - That is something you or your parents should discuss with their conveyancer.&#160; We cannot answer a hypothetical question.&#160;

Hello. The survey has been completed and the notice period for objections has expired but my solicitor has now been told that the application has gone to a more senior officer and that this might take a further 10 working days. Is there any way of speeding up this process? Thank you.

Hello again Karen - the application remains 'live' at present and if a further escalation is required I would suggest using our contact us form to reiterate the urgency. The support team can then escalate the referral process and respond as appropriate - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-hm-land-registry#contact-form

Hello again. Thank you for your help with this. I used the contact form as you suggested, pointing out that there is a very real danger that the purchasers may pull out of this transaction if the application is delayed much longer. Unfortunately it doesn't seem as though the support team are able to escalate the referral process as I have just been told that the matter will be dealt with as soon as possible but with no idea of a timescale. I was also told that the support team could only discuss details of the case with the person who filed the application. When I relayed this to our solicitor this morning she phoned for an update and to emphasise the urgency of the matter and was told that the case had not yet been viewed by the senior officer it had been referred to and that no kind of timeframe could be given. Is there anything more that I or our solicitor can do to try and get this moving? We are really concerned that the transaction will fall through because of this delay. Thank you.