Buyer guide
How to Find Out Who Owns a Property in the UK
Updated 29 May 2026
To find out who owns a UK property, download the title register from HM Land Registry on gov.uk for around 3 pounds. The register names the registered legal owner and shows the price paid where recorded. HomeBuyerCheck Premium goes further by flagging corporate or overseas ownership using HM Land Registry CCOD and OCOD datasets.
Ways to find a UK property owner
| Method | Cost | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| HM Land Registry title register (gov.uk) | Around 3 pounds | The registered legal owner and price paid where recorded |
| HM Land Registry title plan (gov.uk) | Around 3 pounds | The boundary of the registered land |
| HomeBuyerCheck Premium | From 4.99 pounds | Flags corporate and overseas ownership from HMLR CCOD and OCOD data |
| Ask the estate agent or seller | Free | Informal confirmation, but not a legal record |
Find the owner in four steps
- Go to the Search for land and property information service on gov.uk and enter the address.
- Select the property and choose to download the title register, which currently costs around 3 pounds.
- Read the proprietorship section of the register, which names the registered legal owner.
- If you also want the boundary, download the matching title plan for around 3 pounds.
What the title register tells you
The HM Land Registry title register is the official record of who owns a registered property in England and Wales. It names the legal owner, shows any restrictions or charges such as a mortgage, and often records the price paid on the last sale.
A small number of older properties are unregistered, in which case there will be no register and ownership has to be proved with the original title deeds held by the owner or their solicitor.
Spotting corporate and overseas owners
Some homes are owned by a company rather than an individual, and some by an overseas company. HM Land Registry publishes the Commercial and Corporate Ownership Data and the Overseas Companies Ownership Data for this. HomeBuyerCheck Premium checks these datasets and flags when an address is owned by a corporate or overseas entity, which can matter for leasehold blocks, recent flips and freehold ground rent arrangements.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to find out who owns a property?
Downloading the HM Land Registry title register on gov.uk costs around 3 pounds, and the title plan is around 3 pounds too. There is no charge to ask the estate agent, but only the register is an official legal record.
Can I find a property owner for free?
You cannot get the official owner name for free from HM Land Registry, as the title register carries a small fee. You can ask the seller or agent informally, and HomeBuyerCheck Premium flags corporate and overseas ownership as part of a wider report.
Does the title register show the price the owner paid?
Often yes. The register usually records the price paid on the most recent sale, although it may be absent on very old transfers or where the price was not registered.
Why does corporate ownership matter when buying?
Corporate or overseas ownership can signal a buy to let, a recent flip or a complex freehold structure. It is worth understanding before you buy, which is why HomeBuyerCheck Premium surfaces it from HM Land Registry CCOD and OCOD data.
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