Second e-conveyancing consult launched

The fourteen-week consultation begins on Friday 10 August and ends on 16 November 2007.

The consultation paper

• seeks views on proposals to create electronic legal charges (a form of mortgage) and other services that it proposes to make available on the Land Registry Network during 2008
• discusses the extension to, and enhancement of, facilities to lodge applications electronically
• explains proposals to enhance the Chain Matrix facility to exchange paper contracts electronically.

It is proposed that the Chief Land Registrar will establish in 2008, a Land Registry Network as an essential part of developing e-conveyancing. Initially the main components of the Network will be:

• the ability to create and apply for registration of an electronic legal charge
• Chain Matrix
• extension and enhancement of the ability to lodge applications electronically at Land Registry.

Proposed new Land Registration rules would, among other things, prescribe an electronic charge as the first kind of electronic disposition of registered land in England and Wales. Once an electronic legal charge has been created, a customer will be able to apply, using the Land Registry Network, for it to be registered. The charge is likely, in the early stages of e-conveyancing, to be used for re-mortgages and second or subsequent mortgages and not for charges associated with purchases of registered land.

The Land Registry Network will also be used to provide an enlarged and enhanced electronic lodgement service in respect of applications for certain entries in the register as well as an enhanced Chain Matrix. Chain Matrix is an information tool that allows conveyancers and others to view the status of linked conveyancing transactions.

A person who wishes to access the Land Registry Network must enter into a Network Access Agreement (NAA) with the Chief Land Registrar. The draft rules governing certain aspects of NAAs were the subject of the first e-conveyancing secondary legislation consultation, which closed in May 2007.

Subject to the outcome of the proposals and the advice and assistance of the Land Registry Rule Committee, it is anticipated that the new rules would come into force during 2008.

From 10 August 2007, the document and questionnaire can be downloaded and filled in at www.econsultations.e-conveyancing.gov.uk

Alternatively it can be printed out and returned to: Land Registry, FREEPOST PAM 6169, London W12 8SW