Committee publication · Estimate memoranda · 29 April 2026

HM Land Registry Main Estimates Memorandum 2026-27

From: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Summary

HM Land Registry's Main Estimates Memorandum 2026-27 details the department's spending allocation across resource, capital, and managed expenditure budgets. The organisation holds over 26 million property titles across four registers and is transitioning to an income-based funding model whereby it retains and recycles fee income to fund operations up to 10% above a pre-agreed £486m income total. Capital spending is £59.1m; depreciation reclassification increases Resource AME to £48.9m.

Key findings

HMLR transitions to income-based Supply Estimate in 2026-27, retaining and recycling fee income (£486.0m) to fund expenditure, with HM Treasury approval for up to 10% overage.
Resource DEL moves to token £1k voted amount reflecting new financial framework; depreciation (£36.9m) reclassified from Resource DEL to Resource AME.
Capital DEL of £59.1m planned (down £4.0m or 6.3% from previous year), covering software, estates, and IT equipment investment.
Indemnity Fund provision remains at £12.0m with no material changes following latest review by Government Actuary's Department based on December 2025 data.
Local Land Charges programme newly classified as Departmental Major Project; commitments include automating land registration, migrating local authorities to geospatial register, and supporting 1.5m homes delivery target.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-financeproperty-rightsdigital-transformationinfrastructure

Key actors

HM Land Registry, HM Treasury, Government Actuary's Department, Government Property Agency, Iain Banfield, House of Commons Scrutiny Unit

Notable line

“HMLR's income covers its expenditure fully, therefore the Estimates includes a token Vote …”

Key Quotes

“These registers are part of the UK's critical national infrastructure and are crucial to the UK's economic stability and growth …”
— HM Land Registry · describing the role and strategic importance of the property registers

“From 2026-27, HMLR is operating under an income-based Supply Estimate, under which income is retained and recycled to fund expenditure …”
— HM Land Registry · explaining the new financial framework

“HMT has agreed that HMLR can retain and recycle up to 10% above the income total of £486.0m.”
— HM Land Registry · setting parameters for expenditure flexibility under new model

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗