Close to 860,000 sign up for HM Land Registry fraud alerts – London Wallet

Close to 860,000 property owners have now signed up to HM Land Registry’s free Property Alert Service, according to new figures obtained by compliance platform Thirdfort.

The data, released via a Freedom of Information request, shows steady growth in take-up since the service launched in 2013. In the first half of 2025 alone, 60,465 new registrations were recorded — bringing the total to 857,432.

The alert system notifies property owners of certain activity on their title, helping to guard against property fraud.

Olly Thornton-Berry, co-founder and managing director of Thirdfort, said: “It’s hugely encouraging that more people are taking proactive steps to protect themselves from property title fraud. The Property Alert Service is a simple but effective way of reducing risk, and this steady growth over more than a decade shows that awareness is improving.”

Despite steady growth over the long term, recent years have seen a slowdown in new registrations. The highest annual total to date was in 2022, with 178,086 sign-ups. However, 2023 and 2024 each recorded just over 100,000 registrations, with 2025 on track for a similar level.

While the service continues to grow, overall uptake remains low compared to the size of the UK property market. With around 28.6 million households in England and Wales, current registrations cover roughly 3% of properties. This leaves millions of homes—particularly empty, tenanted, or mortgage-free properties, which are most at risk—potentially vulnerable to fraud.

The Property Alert Service allows owners to register up to 10 properties and receive email notifications when HM Land Registry processes applications to change the register. This early warning system helps proprietors identify suspicious activity and respond quickly.

Thornton-Berry added: “Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, and all property owners should be vigilant. Services like HM Land Registry’s alerts are a vital line of defence. At Thirdfort, we’re proud to work with over 1,500 conveyancers, estate agents, and law firms to help safeguard society against fraud.”

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