Land Registry no longer accepting 'confidential' documentation

The Land Registry is no longer accepting any applications or correspondence relating to applications if they are marked ‘Private and Confidential’ or ‘Private’ or ‘Confidential’ - instead, they are being returned to their senders.

The reason is because documentation bearing those words may not legally be eligible to be digitally scanned - a process which is considered necessary in many cases.

A statement from the Land Registry says any documents returned to the customer, or that have to be assessed to decide whether they are suitable for scanning, will not be deemed to be received. 

The statement says:

“It is not appropriate to mark an application or correspondence relating to an application as ‘Private and Confidential’ or ‘Private’ or ‘Confidential’ because: under sections 66 and 67 of the Land Registration Act 2002, any person may inspect and make copies of, or apply for an official copy of, any document referred to in the register or otherwise kept by the registrar which relates to an application to him...

“other correspondence not relating to applications may be subject to access requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the interest of natural justice, and pursuant to section 73(5) of the Land Registration Act 2002, Land Registry is obliged to share documents, including correspondence, when there is a dispute.”