Can I send my original property lease to HM land registry when they have requested a certified copy?

infocomo

I was wondering if someone who knows about leases and land registry can help me....

I am in the process of buying my house freehold. 

Land Registry sent me a letter to say they dont have a copy of the lease and to send them a certified copy. I contacted the old property management company who have now sent me the original lease from the old landlord. I have the Lease and I also have the Counterpart Lease (which I already had). 

I don't wish to look into how to make a copy of this thing. Its not on standard paper, its large paper, all folded up, and then other larger bits folded up inside. If I somehow can get a copy, I need to then arrange a solicitor I believe to certify it. I just want this freehold purchase to go through ASAP. 

So can I send the original lease to Land Registry? Or will they have an issue and demand a certified copy? I have the Counterpart still which looks identical.

If I then need the original I thought I could just pay LR for a copy like normal? 

Thanks 

MovingForwards

A local solicitor will be used to copying and certifying the big leases, it's generally £5 for the service.

Personally I wouldn't risk sending the original in case it got lost on the way to LR.

canaldumidi

I believe LR don't return documents, indeed often destroy them once they've scanned them onto their system, so I'd certainly check that before sending the original!

Try asking the LR Rep here.

AdrianC

Sure, you can send the original.

But for the sake of the cost of a certified copy, it's a massive risk if it gets lost, isn't it?

infocomo

Ok thanks for your replies and letting me know, will call a solicitor and find out. Its just soooo annoying this whole process, everyone taking ages. I paid thousands for the lease months ago and still dont have it. Hopefully this is the last step!
Thanks 

infocomo

OK, next problem.... all the solicitors I called are not providing this service for various reasons (too much work, covid, don't do it). 

TripleH

Can you not get a 'qualified accountant' to do it as a backup option? (ACA or ACCA qualified, apologies. If missed other appropriate qualifications)

All they are doing is saying 'yes this is a genuine photocopy of the actual document' you get them to do it because they are meant to haveca standard to adhere to that means you can trust what they say

infocomo

I dont know, I could research it and ask around I guess. Thing is, the lease is quite large unfolded. Its like A3 size but taller and thinner, then inside is a massive folded map. I assume special photocopier is needed? 

Update: I called HM Land Registry and they send I can send the original, with a letter to explain the issue and request they send it back. I appreciate it could get lost in that process, but if I cant get a certified copy I dont have a choice I guess. 

p00hsticks

infocomo said:

Update: I called HM Land Registry and they send I can send the original, with a letter to explain the issue and request they send it back. I appreciate it could get lost in that process, but if I cant get a certified copy I dont have a choice I guess. 

If you are going to send the original, make sure you send it using a Royal Mail service such as 'signed for' rather than just truesting it to the normal mail - since covid you won't actually get a signature, but it will get specially tracked through the system with a guaranteed next working day delivery

MovingForwards

Call other local solicitors.
With photocopies they shrink it down to A4 and are used to doing it, therefore it takes seconds.

martindow

p00hsticks said:

If you are going to send the original, make sure you send it using a Royal Mail service such as 'signed for' rather than just truesting it to the normal mail - since covid you won't actually get a signature, but it will get specially tracked through the system with a guaranteed next working day delivery

You need Special Delivery for something as precious as this.  This is tracked and handled separately by Royal Mail. 

Signed for goes with the rest of the post and is not tracked along the way - it only gets noted (sometimes) as it is delivered.

Personally, I would only send it as the very last resort.  Try other solicitors as has been suggested.