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> I can't understand why they would do that except to slow the flow of information.

To cover costs. Accessing those records costs somebody’s time and so unless HM Land Registry eats the cost, the interested party covers the cost. Same reason you pay for passes on government transportation or pay filing fees in court or for a driver’s license.

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In Ontario Canada, we digitized the system and then sold it off to cover a deficit.

You can still pay the legislated $6 or whatever for each individual search, but they can slice and dice it and charge whatever they like for useful access to data only they have.

Now someone else can make a 10% return on equity at the public’s expense instead of just issuing a bond at 3%.

We like to sell off monopolies and maintain them here...

Australia has the same approach to selling off monopolies. Nice little earners.

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