Published 9 February 2017 Last updated 23 January 2018 Government response added. First published.
The Land Registry is proposing changes to the Land Registration Rules 2003 , such as introducing electronic signatures for documents relating to land . The e - signatures will be encrypted through the Land Registry 's servers and sent to parties to sign . The signatures will have the same legal standing as a deed , which was the only way land ownership could be legally transferred until now . However , this is not complete electronic conveyancing as transactions will still need to be completed by staff . However , the Land Registry believes these changes are required sooner to meet tenants ' legal demands . The proposal is open for consultation until 5 April .