28th May 2025

How to find out who owns a property

Whether it’s a house you’re interested in buying, land next to your home, or a derelict building you’ve walked past for years – there are several ways you can go about finding out who owns a specific property or land. Luckily, with the internet at our fingertips, there’s no need for hours of sifting through mountains of paperwork, as the UK has a well-established registration system that makes it easy to navigate who owns what.

From using official government services to investigating alternative routes for unregistered land, there are multiple pathways you can take. Some methods are quick and accessible online for a small fee, while others may require a bit more digging or local knowledge. Whatever you’re looking for, our easy step-by-step guide will take you through the process.

Why knowing property ownership matters

There are many reasons why a person or group of people may want to learn more about the details and ownership of a property. The reasons can vary from:

• Prospective buyers – Buyers like to do detailed research to find the true worth of a property before they buy, as well as finding out how much it sold for in the past and how many previous owners it had (which can reveal if there are any potential issues if it’s been passed around a lot) to help them make informed purchasing decisions.
• Research and history – Have you ever walked by a property or piece of land that caught your eye? Maybe it’s been abandoned, or maybe it looks like it has a lot of history to tell. Some people like to look up the details of a property purely out of curiosity.
• Community awareness – Nearby neighbours may have concerns about a property, or simply may just want to know who owns the house next door.
• Legal disputes – In some cases, property ownership can play a vital role in court cases in cases involving boundary disputes or when legal rights over a property are in question (this route will be slightly different as an OC1 Form will need to be filled in).

How to find out who owns a property for free online

While there are multiple ways you can find out who owns a property online, HM Land Registry offers several services that offer this (and more) information, which is available at varying prices, starting with a Property Summary service. This particular service is free to use but only offers limited information, such as ownership and the price it was last sold for.

If you’re looking for something more in-depth, then we recommend using a title register, which does require a small fee but will provide you with more details.

What is a title register?

So, what is a title register? Simply put, a title register is a report that includes detailed data about a property or piece of land that can include anything from:

• The title number (the unique reference code assigned to the registered property)
• The property/land owner
• Information regarding any easements affecting the property
• Any mortgage information held (including the lender’s name, address and whether the mortgage has been discharged)

Title registers are available to purchase through the official government land and property registry website.

How to access the title register of a property

Now we know what it is, we’re going to guide you through a step-by-step on how to use and access the title registry of a property so you can find the information you need.

1. You will have to purchase the title register through the land and property registry. Head to the pages, press ‘start now’ and enter the postcode or street name of the property you’re researching.
2. Once you’ve found the property you’re looking for, head to the property summary page and scroll to the bottom and click the ‘view available documents’ button. You will need to select ‘create an account’ and enter your email address, a password, your full name, phone number and home address before accepting the terms of use.
3. Once opened, the Title Register and Title Plan will then appear, which can both be purchased for a small fee of £3 each.
4. If you wish to buy either of these documents, press ‘continue’, then check the boxes of the documents you want, before selecting ‘continue’ again.
5. You’ll need to enter your debit or credit card information to purchase either or both of the documents and complete the payment before accessing the documents.

Important: If you need an official copy of the register, for instance, to use as proof of ownership in a court case, do not follow the steps above. Instead, fill in Form OC1 before physically posting this to the land registry, accompanied by the fee.

What is the difference between a title registry and a title plan?

As mentioned above, you can purchase the title plan as well as the title registry of a property, but what’s the difference? The main difference is that, while the title registry provides the property information like the title number, owner details and any property easements, the Title Plan provides additional information on the location of a property, as well as its general (non-specific) boundaries.

How can I find out the owner of a property in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

While the above services are available in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own registries for this process. For properties that are on the borders, you will need to go directly to their registries for this information, and fees will also differ.

For Scotland – you can access property information, including the owner of the property and property prices, for free from Scotland’s Land Information Service. Further information can also be bought for a small fee.

For Northern Ireland – a wider range of fees applies to search and copy records from the Northern Ireland Land Registry. However, if you’re simply looking for the current owner of a property in Northern Ireland, you can pay a £5 fee to see a property portfolio, or a £7 fee to take an uncertified copy of that portfolio.

Find land and property in the UK with SDL Property Auctions

The digital age has made it easier than ever to access property records from the comfort of your home, and for a relatively small cost, you can obtain official documents that offer valuable insights into ownership, legal rights, and land boundaries.

There are plenty of reasons why someone may want to know more information about a property or piece of land, including wanting to buy. Here at SDL Property Auctions, we are proud to offer a wide range of property and land types across England, Scotland and Wales for those looking to buy (or sell!). Whether you’re looking to buy quickly or want peace of mind with security, browse our catalogue to find your perfect property or contact us for expert advice and guidance on all things property auction.