Foreword: Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive

Land Registry has a bright and positive future

I, and my fellow Directors, are immensely proud of all that Land Registry achieved last year.  In 2004-05, 98.5 per cent of customers were satisfied/very satisfied with our services and 80 per cent of customers thought we were better/much better than private sector firms they deal with.  

During the year, we:

• handled two per cent more work than in 2003–04, did so faster than ever before, reduced our stocks of outstanding cases and reduced processing times
• launched Land Register Online aimed at the general public; established our direct electronic discharge of mortgages service; completed the scanning of the historic documents referred to on the Land Register; and launched a pilot where practitioners can electronically lodge certain applications with us via Land Registry Direct
• were awarded the Charter Mark for a record fifth time
• rolled out  our ‘training paths’ initiative for registration executives and launched our Future Leaders programme
• completed a prestigious new building in Plymouth for our Information Services Group and made progress with the building of our third computer centre.

Realistically, the amount of work coming to us in 2005–06 may be no greater than in 2004–05. We have therefore set very cautious budgets, put even more effort into encouraging voluntary applications; and actively promoted services which encourage property professionals and the public to make use of our data.

Whatever the short-term market conditions – Land Registry has a bright and positive future. Our e-conveyancing system should transform the home buying and selling experience. We are now actively looking for further opportunities to provide new services to benefit both professional and private customers.

May I thank all those who have helped to make 2004–05 an outstanding success: our customers, our business partners; our ministers; our other stakeholders. And last, but never least – our magnificent staff who always seem to rise to the challenge. My warm and sincere thanks to them all.

Peter Collis
Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive