Beware of Copycat Land Registry Websites Charging Excessive Fees

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Consumers are being warned about third-party websites that resemble official land registry services but charge much higher fees for property documents than the government's platform. Experts advise using only official gov.uk sites to ensure fair pricing and avoid complications with refunds or cancellations.

Consumers are being cautioned about websites that mimic official government services by charging significantly higher fees for accessing land registry documents. One individual seeking information on a property owned by a deceased relative encountered such a situation after using a site that appeared to be the official HM Land Registry but billed £54.80 instead of the expected £7.

The website in question, operating under the name UK Land Registry and linked to a company called Check Property, offers intermediary services for obtaining property details. While the company is legitimate and not fraudulent, its charges exceed those applied by the official government platform, which provides such documents online at a fraction of the cost.

The user reported difficulty in canceling the transaction after realizing the higher price, encountering technical issues when attempting to contact the company. The firm confirmed that, since the requested document was delivered promptly, refunds were not normally issued, though a partial reimbursement was offered as a goodwill gesture subject to administrative deductions.

Following intervention, the user's bank, Santander, processed a chargeback reversing the full payment. A spokesperson for Santander emphasized the importance of verifying government services by using official gov.uk websites to avoid falling victim to overcharging intermediaries.

Similar cases have been reported. One customer paid £926 for three services through a site called onlinelandregistry, far exceeding the standard fees on the official platform. Despite canceling quickly, the company declined full refund requests, citing compliance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the fact that services were completed. An attempt to secure a chargeback through the customer’s bank was unsuccessful due to these contractual terms.

Experts recommend that consumers seeking documents or services from government agencies should navigate directly to gov.uk domains and avoid third-party websites that may appear official but do not offer cost-effective or transparent pricing. This approach minimizes the risk of incurring unnecessary expenses or encountering difficulties with cancellations and refunds.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.