How do I find out who owned a property or land in the past?

We have kept registers in electronic format since 1993. You can apply for copies of these registers, by filling in and sending us form HC1. The register will show the owner of a property or piece of land, but not who occupied it, on a specified date.

If you are interested in dates before 1993 we may possibly be able to send you copies of deeds showing earlier owners. If you know the dates of these deeds, you can apply for copies of them by filling in and sending us form OC2.

If you don't have any dates, for either earlier electronic versions of the register or for any deeds, contact the local Land Registry office that deals with the area where the land or property lies.

When you contact them, give them as much information as you can about the land or property, including approximate dates of purchases and sales. We will do our best to help, but please bear in mind that we may not hold this information. We may only have deeds relating to ownership of property/land before it is registered with us, if they contained specific matters relating to the property/land, such as rights of way. You will be charged a fee for copies of any deeds that we provide. We will inform you of the cost before proceeding.