NEW LAND REGISTRATION RULES 2003 NOWAVAILABLE

Thenew Land Registration Rules 2003 were laid before Parliament on 5 June and arenow available online on Land Registrys website, www.landregistry.gov.uk. The Rules support the Land Registration Act2002 and perform a similar function to the rules made under the LandRegistration Act 1925. They are expected to come into force on 13 October2003. In the coming months, PracticeGuides explaining the new law will also be available to the public andpractitioners from Land Registry.

TheExplanatory Note, published with the Rules, gives more detail about theprovisions of the individual parts.

Itis expected that the Rules will be published shortly after which they will beavailable on the HMSO website www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm and from Stationery Office bookshops acrossthe country.

ALand Registry Actionline on 0870 90 88 061 is available for enquirers with anyquestions they may have about the Rules. Practitioners interested in receivingAction Packs describing the key changes arising from the new legislation canregister for them by contacting the Actionline or by visiting www.landregistry.gov.uk/lract2002.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Land Registration Rules2003 were made on 19 May 2003 and laid before Parliament on 5 June 2003.The rules are subject to a negative resolution procedure and will come intoeffect unless revoked by a resolution of either House of Parliament within 40days of laying.

2. The Land Registration Act2002 received Royal Assent on 26 February 2002 and provides for the repealof the Land Registration Act 1925.

3. With the largest property database inEurope, todays Land Registryunderpins the economy by guaranteeing ownership of many billions of poundsworth of property. Over 1million worth of property is processed every minute.

4. As a Government Department establishedin 1862, Executive Agency and Trading Fund responsible to the Lord Chancellor,Land Registry keeps and maintains the LandRegister for England and Wales.Employing over 8,000 staff, it has an administrative Head Office inLondon and 24 regional offices each providing land registration services fordifferent counties and unitary authorities. For more information about LandRegistry, please visit its website at www.landregistry.gov.uk.

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