Deeds - how long are they taking?

Alicefward

I wondered if anyone has completed recently and received their new title deeds? I understand land registry is really busy but we completed early January and would have expected them from our solicitor by now. I have also asked our solicitor but grateful for any personal experience anyone could share. Thanks.

Tiglet2

Some are taking more than a year - depends on exactly what you've bought (new build, unregistered, transfer of part, transfer of whole etc).

kasqueak

I only received a copy of mine on Friday and we completed first week of October 2020. 

You can also pay and download them yourself for £3 from the land registry website when they’re available. 

FtbDreaming

I completed august 2020 and still received nothing upto now. 

Land_Registry

Wait times will always vary from completion through to registration being confirmed and indeed you being told by your solicitor. 

Why? Well first off a solicitor doesn’t apply immediately. Some may do or indeed try but timings vary from same day to as long as 6-8 weeks in some cases depending on not just the solicitor but also third parties who may be involved including redeemed mortgage lender. No one property purchase is the same but most are submitted 2-4 weeks after completion in my experience

Once we’ve got it, and as Tiglet2 posts, the type of purchase impacts on how long it waits before we process it. Vast majority of purchases are registered within 5/6 weeks currently from day of receipt as they are of an already registered title so new owner and mortgage being added to an existing register. 

Some will wait longer as the application is incomplete or something awry. How long depends on how quickly the solicitor can correct things and then how quickly we can then reconsider it. About 1 in 7 have something wrong. 

If it’s a new build, new lease or a first registration then the wait time is several months currently. Those applications are more complex and take more time to complete but much of the time is wait time at our end. However 1 out of every 2 are incomplete so the frequency of double (or more) handling increases and so can wait times as a result. 

So if you completed early January and it was an already registered property you shouldn’t be too far off hearing soon. If it’s a new build etc you’ve got a long wait left. 

Your solicitor can usually check and confirm submission date, wait times, delays and more via their secure portal. 

Does it matter how long? Of course it does and not just from a reassurance aspect. 

From a legal perspective you became the owner when you completed. You’ll have moved in normally and how long before the ‘paperwork’ is done doesn’t change that. The purchase will have been protected prior to completing and submission of the application to register adds to that protection and priority.
Hopefully your solicitor will confirm things for you shortly but if they don’t then just hold on until they do 

boots_babe

We completed on 14th December, and had confirmation of deed registration on 4th March.

Alicefward

Thanks all - very helpful.

4ppleseed

Land_Registry said:

Why? Well first off a solicitor doesn’t apply immediately. Some may do or indeed try but timings vary from same day to as long as 6-8 weeks in some cases depending on not just the solicitor but also third parties who may be involved including redeemed mortgage lender. No one property purchase is the same but most are submitted 2-4 weeks after completion in my experience

Hi, we applied to have my name removed from a family member's house/deeds (I had never lived at this property, 10 years ago they got into financial problems and I offered to pay half the mortgage), how long is this process currently taking on average? Is that also 6-8 weeks? It's been 8 weeks so far. It's currently jeopardising the purchase of a home for myself. Thanks.

4ppleseed

4ppleseed said:

Land_Registry said:

Why? Well first off a solicitor doesn’t apply immediately. Some may do or indeed try but timings vary from same day to as long as 6-8 weeks in some cases depending on not just the solicitor but also third parties who may be involved including redeemed mortgage lender. No one property purchase is the same but most are submitted 2-4 weeks after completion in my experience

Hi, we applied to have my name removed from a family member's house/deeds (I had never lived at this property, 10 years ago they got into financial problems and I offered to pay half the mortgage), how long is this process currently taking on average? Is that also 6-8 weeks? It's been 8 weeks so far. It's currently jeopardising the purchase of a home for myself. Thanks.

Sorry, should have added @Land_Registry

Land_Registry

4ppleseed said:

Land_Registry said:

Why? Well first off a solicitor doesn’t apply immediately. Some may do or indeed try but timings vary from same day to as long as 6-8 weeks in some cases depending on not just the solicitor but also third parties who may be involved including redeemed mortgage lender. No one property purchase is the same but most are submitted 2-4 weeks after completion in my experience

Hi, we applied to have my name removed from a family member's house/deeds (I had never lived at this property, 10 years ago they got into financial problems and I offered to pay half the mortgage), how long is this process currently taking on average? Is that also 6-8 weeks? It's been 8 weeks so far. It's currently jeopardising the purchase of a home for myself. Thanks.

It can wait that long but the key here is the urgency you mention, namely jeopardising your own purchase. I assume whoever lodged it has asked for it to be expedited? 

Wait times matter re length when there’s a linked/dependent transaction. Nobody need wait 8 weeks if that urgency exists. 

What’s the title number involved? I can then give you a real-time idea which may help you as well as explain what I mean in general terms 

Land_Registry

@4ppleseed - did you see my reply?