Citation and commencement

1. These Rules may be cited as the Land Registration (Amendment) Rules 2020 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which they are laid.

Interpretation

2. In these Rules “the principal Rules” means the Land Registration Rules 2003( 4 ), and a reference to a rule by number is a reference to the rule so numbered in the principal Rules unless otherwise stated.

Amendments to the principal Rules

3. The principal Rules are amended in accordance with rules 4 to 6 of these Rules.

Amendments to rule 216

4. In rule 216—

(1) For paragraph (1)(b)(iii) substitute “certified as an interrupted business day under rule 216A(1).”

(2) Omit paragraphs (5) to (8).

New rule 216A

5. Before rule 217 insert—

“ Interrupted day

216A. —(1) The registrar may certify any day as an interrupted business day or an interrupted working day or both if he is satisfied that on that day there is likely to be—

(a) a general delay in, or failure of, a communication service in England and Wales, or

(b) any other event or circumstance,

causing a substantial interruption in the normal operation of the land registry.

(2) The registrar must give notice publicising the certification in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(3) The certification must take place before the start of the day being certified.

(4) Certification of a day as an interrupted working day shall have the effect of extending–

(a) the date and time given in the result of an official search with priority as the date and time at which priority expires,

(b) the date and time fixed by a notice given by the registrar or any longer period that the registrar may allow in accordance with these rules, and

(c) the period specified by the registrar for compliance with a requisition,

to include an additional number of working days equal to the number of interrupted working days falling within the priority period of the official search, the time fixed by the notice or any longer period allowed by the registrar, or the period specified by the registrar.

(5) Certification of a day as an interrupted working day shall be disregarded for the purposes of rules 107, 187(2), 194E, 194F and 199.

(6) In this rule–

“communication service” means a service by which documents may be sent and delivered and includes a post service, a document exchange service and electronic communications,

“priority period” has the same meaning as in Part 13. ”

Amendment to rule 217

6. In rule 217(1), after the definition of “working day” add “or, subject to rule 216A(5), certified as an interrupted working day under rule 216A(1).”