Registering land or property with HM Land Registry

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Register for the first time

Land or property must be registered for the first time if it’s unregistered when you take ownership of it or mortgage it.

Even if you do not have to register, registering voluntarily:

You can register property yourself or get a solicitor or conveyancer to do it for you.

Register land or property for the first time

  1. Search the register to make sure your property is not already registered.

  2. Apply for a search from the Land Charges Department to search against all previous owners since 1925. They will send you the results.

  3. Fill in an application for first registration.

  4. Prepare a scale plan showing where the land is outlined, if it’s not shown in the deeds.

  5. Find the forms you need depending on your circumstances and fill out 2 copies of the list of documents form.

  6. Find out the correct registration fee - this depends on the value of your property.

  7. Send your documents, forms and fee to HM Land Registry.

If you bought the property

Include the same forms as for registering for the first time and a ‘transfer of whole of registered title’ form.

If you inherited the property

Include the same forms as for registering for the first time and include either:

Contact HM Land Registry if you’re unsure which form you need.

Other documents you may need

You may also need to send: