In This Article
On 9 December 2024, HM Land Registry increased the cost of its information services for the first time in over ten years. If you’re a solicitor, conveyancer, estate agent, or property owner who regularly accesses title plans, title registers, or official search results, you’ll now be paying more than double the previous price for electronic copies.
The headline change is straightforward: electronic copies of title registers and title plans have increased from £3 to £7 each. But the full picture is broader than that, and there are some important details worth understanding — particularly if you’re involved in property transactions on a regular basis.
Key Takeaway: The fee increase applies to information services — accessing documents and conducting searches. Registration services fees (Scale 1 and Scale 2 for registering transfers, leases, and mortgages) were last changed in January 2022 and remain unchanged by this update.
1. What Changed on 9 December 2024
The Land Registration Fee Order 2024 came into effect on 9 December 2024, updating the fees for HM Land Registry’s information services. These are the fees you pay when requesting copies of documents, conducting official searches, or inspecting the register.
The changes affect three main areas:
- Official copies — title registers, title plans, and filed documents (deeds, charges, conveyances)
- Official searches — priority searches (OS1, OS2, OS3), home rights searches (HR3), and index map searches (SIM)
- Agricultural Credits and Land Charges — registration and search fees under these separate registers
HM Land Registry stated that the increase reflects the rising costs of running and improving their services, along with investment in digitalisation and data transformation. They also noted that even at the new prices, most customers are still paying less than they were in 1992.
2. Information Services Fee Breakdown
Here’s how the key fees compare before and after the December 2024 changes:
Official Copies (Title Documents)
| Document | Electronic (Portal/Gateway) | Postal |
|---|---|---|
| Title Register (OC1) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Title Plan (OC1) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Copy of a Filed Document (OC2) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Historical Edition of Register/Plan (HC1) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Exempt Information Document (EX2) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
Official Searches
| Search Type | Electronic (Portal/Gateway) | Postal |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Search — Whole Title (OS1) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Priority Search — Part Title (OS2) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Non-Priority Search — Whole Title (OS3) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Home Rights Search (HR3) | £7 was £3 | £11 was £7 |
| Index Map Search (SIM) — up to 5 titles | £8 was £4 | |
| Proprietors’ Name Search (PN1) | £15 per name (post only) | |
The pattern is consistent: electronic fees have moved from £3 to £7 (a 133% increase), and postal fees have moved from £7 to £11 (a 57% increase). The gap between electronic and postal pricing is designed to encourage digital submissions.
Worth Noting: If you only need a title plan or register for your own property, the cheapest route is the Search for Land and Property Information service on GOV.UK — £7 per document, delivered electronically.
3. Registration Services Fees
It’s worth clarifying that the December 2024 changes only apply to information services. The fees for actually registering property transactions — known as Scale 1 and Scale 2 fees — were last increased on 31 January 2022 and remain unchanged.
Scale 1 fees apply to registrations involving monetary consideration (property sales, new mortgages, first registrations). Scale 2 fees apply to transfers not for monetary value (assents following death, trustee changes, matrimonial transfers).
These fees are based on the value of the property or consideration involved, ranging from £45 for properties up to £80,000 to several hundred pounds for high-value transactions. You can check the exact fee for any transaction using the HM Land Registry fee calculator.
HM Land Registry has indicated that a more substantial review of their overall charging structure is planned following a consultation, but no timeline has been confirmed for further changes.
4. What This Means for Property Transactions
For a single property purchase or sale, the fee increase is modest — an extra £4 per document. But the costs add up quickly for professionals handling multiple transactions, and for certain types of work, the cumulative impact is significant.
For Solicitors & Conveyancers
A standard residential conveyancing transaction typically requires at minimum a title register, a title plan, and an OS1 priority search — that’s £21 in electronic fees where it was previously £9. Add in a copy of a filed document (lease, transfer deed, or plan) and an index map search, and the costs climb further. For firms handling hundreds of transactions a year, the annual increase is substantial.
For Estate Agents
Under the Material Information requirements, agents are increasingly expected to verify property details using Land Registry documents. At £7 per title plan and £7 per register, the cost of checking even basic details for each instruction has more than doubled.
For Property Developers
Development projects involving multiple plots, ransom strips, access rights, and neighbouring titles can require dozens of title searches. A development of 50 plots where each requires a title plan and register check now costs £700 in search fees alone — up from £300.
For Homeowners
If you need to check your own title plan or register — for example, to understand your property boundaries or check what’s registered against your title — the cost has increased from £3 to £7 per document. For a title register and title plan together, that’s £14.
5. How to Avoid Overpaying
One of the biggest issues with Land Registry document access is the number of third-party websites that repackage official Land Registry data at inflated prices. These sites often appear prominently in search results — sometimes above the official GOV.UK service — and charge significantly more than the official fees.
Some of these sites charge £20, £30, or even more for a title plan that costs £7 directly from HM Land Registry. They’re accessing exactly the same data — there’s no added value.
- Avoid paid search ads that mimic the official Land Registry service. The official GOV.UK site will never appear as a paid advertisement.
- Check the URL — the official search service is at search-property-information.service.gov.uk. If the domain doesn’t end in .gov.uk, it’s a third-party reseller.
- Verify the price before entering payment details. If you’re being charged more than £7 for an electronic title plan or register, you’re not on the official site.
- Be cautious with bundled services. Some third-party sites bundle a title plan and register together with added “reports” and charge a premium. If all you need is the official document, go directly to GOV.UK.
Quick Link: The official HM Land Registry search service is at search-property-information.service.gov.uk — bookmark it to avoid accidentally landing on a reseller site.
6. Does This Affect Our Plan Prices?
The HM Land Registry fee increase relates to the cost of accessing existing documents — title plans, title registers, and search results. It does not directly affect the cost of having a new Land Registry-compliant plan prepared.
At Towers Richardson, our plans are prepared to meet the requirements of Practice Guide 40 and are submitted as part of your solicitor’s application to register a transaction. The Land Registry registration fee (Scale 1 or Scale 2) is paid separately by your solicitor as part of the application process.
Our plan preparation fees start from £115 and remain unaffected by the information services fee increase. We continue to offer 24-hour turnaround as standard and maintain a 100% HM Land Registry acceptance rate.
If you need a title plan, lease plan, transfer plan, or developer plan, get in touch for a free quote:
📧 info@towers-richardson.co.uk
📞 01226 885040
💬 WhatsApp: 07543 434048
Or request a free quote online — we respond within 1 hour during business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a title plan cost from HM Land Registry?
An official copy of a title plan costs £7 when ordered electronically through the HM Land Registry portal or Business Gateway. A postal copy costs £11. These prices came into effect on 9 December 2024.
How much does a title register cost from HM Land Registry?
An official copy of a title register costs £7 electronically or £11 by post, the same as a title plan. If you need both documents for the same property, the total cost is £14 electronically or £22 by post.
When did HM Land Registry fees increase?
Information services fees (title plans, registers, searches, and filed documents) increased on 9 December 2024 under the Land Registration Fee Order 2024. Registration services fees (Scale 1 and Scale 2 for property registrations) were last increased on 31 January 2022 and remain unchanged.
Why did HM Land Registry increase their fees?
HM Land Registry stated that the increase reflects the rising costs of running and improving their services, along with investment in digitalisation and data transformation. The information services fees had not been changed for more than ten years prior to this increase.
Where is the official HM Land Registry search service?
The official service is at search-property-information.service.gov.uk. Be cautious of third-party websites that appear in search results and charge more than the official £7 fee for electronic copies. If the website address doesn’t end in .gov.uk, it’s a reseller.
Do the fee increases affect the cost of having a Land Registry plan prepared?
No. The fee increase applies to accessing existing documents from HM Land Registry. The cost of having a new Land Registry-compliant plan prepared by a specialist like Towers Richardson is separate. Our plan preparation fees start from £115 and are unaffected by the information services fee change.
Can I get a free title plan?
HM Land Registry does not provide free title plans to the public. The minimum cost is £7 for an electronic copy. If you’re buying a property, your solicitor or conveyancer will obtain the title documents as part of the transaction — the cost is usually included in their disbursements. Some third-party sites advertise “free” title information but may only provide limited details or require a paid upgrade for the full document.
