Common Land Registry Rejection Reasons (And How to Avoid Them)

Last updated: February 2026

When HM Land Registry cannot complete a registration application because information is missing, incorrect, or a plan does not meet their requirements, they issue a requisition — a formal request for corrections or additional information. If the issues are serious enough, the application may be rejected outright.

Either way, it means delays. Requisitions add an average of 15 working days to simple applications, and more than six weeks for complex ones. In some cases, applications have gone back and forth for over a year before being resolved.

In this guide, we cover the most common Land Registry rejection reasons, with particular focus on plan-related issues, and share practical advice on how to avoid them.

1. Requisition vs Rejection — What’s the Difference?

It is worth understanding the distinction. A requisition is a request for further information — your application is paused but retains its priority while you provide the missing details. A rejection under rule 16(3) of the Land Registration Rules 2003 is more severe: the application is returned entirely, and you must resubmit from scratch once the defects are corrected.

HMLR typically reserves outright rejection for applications that have “no prospect of success” — for example, where a deed refers to a plan but none is attached, or where the land simply cannot be identified from the submitted documents. Most errors result in a requisition rather than rejection, but both cause delays and additional costs.

2. Plan-Related Rejection Reasons

As a firm that has prepared Land Registry plans since 1994, plan deficiencies are what we know best — and they are among the most common reasons for HMLR requisitions. Under Practice Guide 40, plans must meet specific standards. Here are the most frequent plan-related failures:

Plans that trigger rejection:

• No plan attached: The deed refers to a plan but it is missing from the application — immediate rejection.
• Extent cannot be identified on the OS map: The property shown on the plan cannot be related to the Ordnance Survey map due to insufficient surrounding detail.
• Extent not clearly defined: No red edging, colouring, or hatching to show which land is being dealt with.
• Plan too distorted: Significant scaling or distortion preventing identification of the extent.

Plans that trigger requisition:

• No north point: Essential for HMLR to orientate the plan against the OS map.
• No scale or incorrect scale: Plan must be drawn to a stated scale (1:200, 1:500, 1:1250, or 1:2500).
• Printed at wrong size: A common issue when printing from PDF — “fit to page” settings reduce the plan, making the stated scale inaccurate.
• Disclaimer text present: Phrases like “do not scale”, “for identification purposes only”, or “draft” must not appear on the final plan.
• Plan not signed: Where a plan accompanies a deed, it must be signed by the relevant parties.
• Black and white plan submitted where colour is needed: If the deed refers to coloured markings, the plan must be in colour.
• Lease plan showing wrong wall line: Red edging on the external wall when it should be on the internal wall (or vice versa) depending on the lease type.

3. Form and Document Errors

Beyond plan issues, many rejections and requisitions are caused by basic administrative mistakes in the application forms and supporting documents:

• Name discrepancies: Names in the transfer deed do not match those on the register — even minor spelling differences trigger a requisition.
• Undated deeds: Deeds without a completion date, or with a date that is illegible or handwritten unclearly.
• Missing signatures or improper execution: Deeds not properly witnessed or signed according to requirements.
• Incorrect fee: The wrong fee submitted, or no fee at all. HMLR will normally call within a day to resolve this.
• Missing address for service: Failure to provide up to three current addresses for service on the application form.
• Missing power of attorney certificate: Where required, failure to include a conveyancer’s certificate in the prescribed form.
• Identity panel errors: Incomplete or incorrect identity verification in the AP1 or FR1 form.

4. First Registration Issues

First registrations have some of the highest requisition rates of any application type. This is because they are inherently complex — dealing with unregistered land, old deed plans, and sometimes centuries-old documents. Common issues include:

• Old deed plans that cannot be related to the OS map: Hand-drawn plans from decades ago often lack the detail needed for HMLR to identify the land.
• Boundary discrepancies: Physical boundaries on the ground do not match the boundaries described in the old deeds.
• Missing title deeds: The chain of ownership is incomplete — missing conveyances or transfers.
• Incomplete form DL: The list of documents accompanying the FR1 application is incomplete or incorrectly compiled.
• No statutory declaration where deeds are lost: Where original deeds have been lost or destroyed, a statutory declaration is required.

For first registrations especially, a professionally prepared plan that reconciles old deed boundaries with current OS mapping can prevent months of delay. Read our complete guide to first registration for more details.

5. Lease-Specific Errors

Lease registrations bring their own set of common pitfalls:

• Missing prescribed clauses: Leases granted after 19 June 2006 must contain prescribed clauses at the beginning — without them, the lease cannot be registered.
• Lease plan does not show the correct demise: The area edged in red does not match the verbal description of the property in the lease.
• No separate floor plans: For leases covering parts of a building, each floor must be shown on a separate plan.
• Communal areas not distinguished: Shared hallways, stairs, and service areas must be clearly identified.
• Commencement date issues: Errors in the lease start date or term calculation.

6. How to Avoid Requisitions and Rejections

HMLR publishes a range of free resources to help conveyancers improve application quality. Here are the most effective steps you can take:

• Use HMLR’s application checklists: Separate checklists are available for registered land applications and first registrations — they cover the most common requisition points.
• Check names against the register before submitting: Ensure all names match exactly between the deed, the application form, and the current register entries.
• Use a specialist for your plans: Plan deficiencies are among the most common and most avoidable causes of requisition. A PG40-compliant plan from a specialist removes this risk entirely.
• Print plans at the correct size: When printing from PDF, always use “actual size” rather than “fit to page” to preserve the stated scale.
• Remove all disclaimers from final plans: Draft disclaimers are fine during negotiations but must be removed from the plan submitted for registration.
• Double-check deed execution: Ensure deeds are properly signed, witnessed, and dated before submission.
• Use the HMLR portal for electronic submission: Over 90% of applications are now lodged digitally, and the portal can catch some errors at submission.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Need a Compliant Plan?

Plan deficiencies are among the most avoidable causes of Land Registry delay. At Towers Richardson, every plan is prepared using licensed Ordnance Survey data and checked against Practice Guide 40 requirements before delivery. We have maintained a 100% HMLR acceptance rate since 1994.

Get in touch today:

📧 info@towers-richardson.co.uk
📞 01226 885040
💬 WhatsApp: 07543 434048

Or request a free quote online — we respond within 1 hour during business hours.