‘Disgraceful’ Retired teacher’s two-year wait to register home

A widower who has been waiting more than two years to register the home he has lived in for five decades has criticised “disgraceful” delays at His Majesty’s Land Registry (HMLR).

Norman Perkins, 79, owns a bungalow, three acres of land, a house and part of a private road in the village of South Brent in Devon.

He discovered that the property, which he inherited from his parents, was not registered after a new neighbour alerted him.

Amid rumours of a nearby church being bought and knocked down by developers, Mr Perkins decided to register his land to put him in a better position to object to any planning applications.

But more than two years after his solicitor sent off the application, the retired teacher has heard nothing.

“The delays are disgraceful,” he said.

“If I need to start objecting, there’s no evidence I own this land. It’s very frustrating.”