Press release: February 2018 Transaction Data

The transaction data shows HM Land Registry completed 1,632,969 applications in February compared with 1,782,088 in January and 1,516,596 last February, of which:

• 376,546 were applications for register updates compared with 462,352 in January

• 796,961 were applications for an official copy of a register compared with 825,613 in January

• 186,329 were search and hold queries (official searches) compared with 211,393 in January

• 23910 were postal applications from non-account holders, compared with 26,002 in January

Applications by region and country

Region/country	December applications	January applications	February applications
South East	287,649	403,526	376,385
Greater London	250,636	339,286	313,340
North West	139,168	222,150	185,253
South West	124,681	173,058	158,433
West Midlands	107,079	150,292	143,338
Yorkshire and the Humber	98,017	139,207	122,513
East Midlands	90,239	122,812	115,725
Wales	58,854	80,315	74,301
North	56,648	77,912	71,772
East Anglia	53,549	73,345	71,764
Isles of Scilly	79	110	75
England and Wales (not assigned)	42	75	70
Total	1,266,641	1,782,088	1,632,969

Top 5 local authority areas

Top 5 local authority areas	December applications	Top 5 local authority areas	January applications	Top 5 local authority areas	February applications
Birmingham	19,714	Birmingham	27,561	Birmingham	26,256
City of Westminster	17,977	City of Westminster	25,488	City of Westminster	21,991
Leeds	14,262	Leeds	20,256	Leeds	18,730
Manchester	13,384	Manchester	19,350	Manchester	16,972
Cornwall	13,332	Cornwall	18,367	Cornwall	16,606

Top 5 customers

Top 5 customers	December applications	Top 5 customers	January applications	Top 5 customers	February applications
Enact	36,313	Enact	50,327	Enact	50,488
Optima Legal Services	19,826	Nationwide Building Society	31,589	Optima Legal Services	27,904
O’Neill Patient	19,764	Optima Legal Services	27,284	O’Neill Patient	23,851
HBOS PLC	16,649	O’Neill Patient	26,073	Devonshires	20,684
TM Group (UK) Ltd	16,444	My Home Move Limited	19,103	TM Group (UK) Ltd	19,558

Access the full dataset on data.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. Transaction Data is published on the 15th working day of each month. The March Transaction Data will be published at 11am on Monday 23 April 2018 at HM Land Registry Monthly Property Transaction Data.

2. We are challenging ourselves to reassess our language to make our terms understandable to both our commercial and citizen customers. This is in line with our commitment set out in the Business Strategy 2017-2022 under the ‘simplicity’ element of our ambition.

3. The monthly Transaction Data shows how many applications for register create (new titles), leases, transfer of part, register updates (updating existing titles), official copies of the register and search and hold queries (official searches) were completed. It reflects the volume of applications lodged by customers using an HM Land Registry account number on their application form.

4. Completed applications in England and Wales shown by region and by local authority include postal applications as well as those sent electronically.

5. Transaction Data excludes pending applications, bankruptcy applications, bulk applications, and discharge applications (to remove a charge, for example, a mortgage, from the register).

6. Transactions for value are applications lodged involving a transfer of ownership for value. For an explanation of other terms used, see abbreviations used in the transaction data.

7. Most search and hold queries carried out by a solicitor or conveyancer are to protect the purchase and/or mortgage. For example, a search will give the buyer priority for an application to HM Land Registry to register the purchase of the property. This can give an indication of market activity.

8. Reasonable skill and care are used in the provision of the data. We strive to ensure that the data is as accurate as possible but cannot guarantee that it is free from error. We cannot guarantee our data is fit for your intended purpose or use.

9. Transaction Data is available free of charge for use and re-use under the Open Government Licence (OGL). The licence allows public bodies to make their data available for re-use.

10. If you use or publish the Transaction Data, you must add the following attribution statement:
    Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2017. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

11. HM Land Registry’s mission is to guarantee and protect property rights in England and Wales.

12. HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. It operates as an executive agency and a trading fund and its running costs are covered by the fees paid by the users of its services. Its ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.

13. HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership worth in excess of £4 trillion, including around £1 trillion of mortgages. The Land Register contains more than 25 million titles showing evidence of ownership for some 85% of the land mass of England and Wales.

14. For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry

15. Follow us on: Twitter @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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