Registers of Scotland rejection rate declines following changes

Registers of Scotland have reported a steady decline in rejection rates following the introduction of land registration changes in December.

The fall in the number of rejected applications peaked last week with the rejection rate dropping to 6%, highlighting the efforts made to understand and implement the extensive changes.

The Law Society of Scotland met with Registers of Scotland following the reinstatement of the rejection fee on 9 February 2015 in order to gain a better understanding of the type and volume of issues being raised.

Rejection reasons given from just one day of rejections last week show that the grounds for rejection are not based on issues created by the Land Registration etc (Scotland) Act 2012 and instead follow the more typical rejection issues that existed before the introduction of the 2012 Act, for example

• Application form not signed/completed
• Error in deed or no deed provided
• Incorrect fee (where payment is by cheque)
• No SDLT certificate
• No or wrong plan

The Society will continue to work with Registers of Scotland to reduce rejection rates and intends to keep members informed of any trends in reasons for rejection. More information about the reasons for rejection, and some common issues occurring with plans, can be found on the Society’s website.

For advice on the completion of applications, as well as general guidance on how to avoid rejections, Registers of Scotland can be contacted on 0800 028 9311.

The Law Society's Professional Practice team can also advise on any queries about the registration process, and will look into any concerns around the rejection of applications or the charging of fees. It can be contacted for a confidential discussion on 0131 226 8896.