Registering land or property with HM Land Registry
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 an email address) for each property with HM Land Registry. One of them must be a postal address. It does not need to be in the UK.
You can update or correct the register yourself, or get help from a solicitor or conveyancer.
The process involves legal steps and can be complicated. If you choose to apply yourself, find out what to consider before making an application without legal representation.
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
When you change your name, you must send original or certified copies of documents that link your new name to the name currently on the register. You do not have to pay anything to do this.
If you’re applying yourself, HM Land Registry will return your original documents after the register has been updated.
If you’re using a solicitor or conveyancer, check with them if they’ll return your documents.
Use form AP1 and send it with one of the following:
- your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if you’ve changed your surname)
- a copy of a deed poll
- a statement of truth
- a statutory declaration sworn before a magistrate, a solicitor or a commissioner of oaths
If you’re not using a solicitor or conveyancer, you must also send:
-
a filled-in confirmation of identity form in your new name - use form ID1 if someone checks your identity in person, or form ID3 if an authorised professional checks it remotely
-
a copy of an official document in your former name, such as a passport, driving licence or utility bill
Change of name for your affirmed gender
You can use either form AP1 or form CNG to change your name. Both forms update your name on the register in the same way.
Use:
- form AP1 if you want to send standard documents that show your change of name (for example a deed poll, statement of truth or statutory declaration)
- form CNG if you want to send more sensitive documents that show your name has changed
You must send original or certified copies of documents that link your new name to the name currently on the register.
If you use form CNG, you can send one of the following documents that shows both your former and current names, such as:
- a deed poll
- a statement of truth
- a statutory declaration sworn before a magistrate, a solicitor or a commissioner of oaths
If you do not have a single document that shows both names, send one document showing your current name and one showing your former name. For example:
- old and new passports or driving licences
- a gender recognition certificate
- a new birth certificate
- a utility bill in your former name
- a letter from a UK-based medical practitioner (such as a doctor) confirming you live in your affirmed gender and that you use your new name
Send the completed form and documents to the address on the form.
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:
- application form AP1
- an original or certified copy of your final order (formerly called a decree absolute for marriages or a dissolution order for civil partnerships)
You can only use your final order if it shows both your original and married names, and the proceedings were taken in your original name.
If the final order does not show both names, include either:
- a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate, or
- a certificate by a conveyancer confirming the change of name.
If you’re reverting to a name that is not shown on either the marriage or civil partnership certificate, you’ll need to provide formal evidence such as a deed poll.
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 7806
Bilston
WV1 9QR