Registering land or property with HM Land Registry

Skip to contents of guide

Update or correct the register

You must tell HM Land Registry if anything in the register changes or it is incorrect.

Update or correct contact addresses

You can register up to 3 addresses (including email and non-UK addresses) with HM Land Registry for each property.

To change your contact details or those of other owners or agents send a request to update registered owners’ contact address. You do not have to pay anything to do this.

Change your name

You must send HM Land Registry an application to change the register when you change your name. You do not have to pay anything to do this.

How to apply depends on which documents you can send that prove your name has changed. You’ll get back any official certificates you send in after the register has been updated.

Use application form AP1 if you have any of the following documents:

  • an official or certified copy of a certificate showing the name change, such as a marriage or civil partnership certificate
  • a copy of a deed poll
  • a statement of truth
  • a statutory declaration sworn before someone able to take oaths

You must also send additional proof if you’re not sending a certificate or using a conveyancer (for example a solicitor). When you send from AP1, include both:

  • a filled-in confirmation of identity form in your new name
  • a copy of an official document in your former name, such as a passport, driving licence or utility bill

If you’ve changed your gender

Use application form CNG if you have any of the following documents:

  • a gender recognition certificate
  • a new birth certificate
  • a letter from a UK-based medical practitioner (such as a doctor) confirming you’ve changed gender

Send the completed form and one of the documents to the address on the form. You must send original documents, not copies.

If you’re sending a gender recognition certificate, write ‘Private and confidential’ on the envelope.

Returning to your original surname

To return to your original surname after a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership send HM Land Registry:

HM Land Registry will let you know if they need more information.

Stop your previous name being seen on old documents

Your previous name will still appear on any documents that were filed with HM Land Registry before you changed your name. Previous names cannot be changed but you might be able to stop them from being copied or inspected by making an exempt document application.

It costs:

  • £12 per document for electronic applications - only businesses and organisations can apply electronically, for example conveyancers
  • £25 per document for paper applications

You will need to fill in form EX1 and form EX1A.

Mortgage completion

You must tell HM Land Registry if a mortgage on a registered property is paid off (‘discharged’).

Usually your mortgage lender will do this for you automatically but they may send you a completed ‘cancellation of charges’ form.

Once you have this, fill in an application to ‘cancel entries relating to a charge’ and a confirmation of identity form.

Send all forms to the Citizen Centre.

HM Land Registry will update your details and tell you that the register has been updated.

Other changes

Transfer ownership of your property if you’ve:

  • sold it
  • divorced or separated and want to remove an owner
  • married and want to add an owner
  • given the property away

Send your requests

Send completed forms to the HM Land Registry Citizen Centre.

HM Land Registry
Citizen Centre
PO Box 74
Gloucester
GL14 9BB