Land Registry Website to “Expose” House Prices

31 Jan 2005

A new website launched today by the Land Registry will allow people to find out how much their neighbours paid for their houses. A £2 fee will be payable in order to gain access to information including property ownership details and boundaries.

The Land Registry is introducing the internet service in an attempt to make the home buying process clearer and faster.

Previously, prospective home buyers had to either write to the Land Registry or visit their offices to request information in person.

The new website will give people who pay the £2 charge immediate access to the information they need, including who owns a particular property and how much was paid for it. Users will also be able to view a property’s boundaries and any restrictions put on its use.

A spokeswoman for the Land Registry said that people would now be able to use the site to assess the “true worth” of a property, preventing some buyers from paying over-the-odds. The spokeswoman also confirmed that the site is intended to speed up sales.

The online service has been used on a trial basis since 2003, attracting an average of 1,500 searches a day and earning more than £1m in fees.

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