Public Guide 2 – Keeping your address for service up to date

Updated: February 2013

Update

This edition of the guide replaces the March 2012 edition. Section 3 has been amended as a result of the introduction of standard addresses. Section 5.1 has been amended to clarify the identity evidence required when an individual submits a change of address application on behalf of a corporate body.

What this guide covers

Guidance explaining how and why you should keep your address for service up to date.

1 What is an address for service?

If you own, or have a legal right to or interest in, a property registered with us, we will need an 'address for service' for our records. (An address for service is simply an address where we can send correspondence relating to your property.)

You should keep your address for service up to date so that you receive the important letters or notices we send you.

2 How many addresses for service can I have?

You can have up to three addresses for service in our register. We need at least one postal address, but this does not have to be in the UK. The other two addresses can include the following.

• A UK or overseas postal address.

• A DX address, as long as we already have an arrangement with the DX service provider. (DX stands for document exchange, a service provided by several firms in the UK who collect and deliver letters and parcels to other businesses and firms who have a DX address.)

• An email address.

Below we have listed some of the address combinations you can have.

• One UK or overseas postal address and two DX addresses.

• One UK or overseas postal address, a DX address and an email address.

• One UK or overseas postal address and two email addresses.

• One, two or three postal addresses.

An email address makes an ideal address for service. However, your email address will sometimes change when you change service provider. Please make sure you let us know whenever this happens so that we can change our records.

3 How do you show my address for service?

If you give us more than one address for service, we enter them in the register in the following order.

• Your postal address.

• Your DX address.

• Your email address.

Land Registry will, whenever possible, enter your address for service in the register in a format that conforms with official sources such as Royal Mail. In some instances this might be in a slightly different format to that applied for. By using the official version we can ensure the postal address entered in the register is as accurate as possible and this will enable any correspondence to be delivered to you swiftly and correctly.

4 Why do you need an address for service?

Once your name is entered in the register as, for example, someone who owns, or has a legal right to or interest in, a property registered with us, we may need to write to you about an application affecting your legal rights. If your address for service is not up to date, you may not receive our letter or notice and could suffer a loss as a result.

Land and buildings can also be attractive targets for fraud. Ensuring that your address for service is up to date is one example of how to safeguard against property fraud – see Public Guide 17 – How to safeguard against property fraud for more information.

If your address for service is not up to date then this may adversely affect any claim for indemnity from Land Registry you may make.

If you apply to change an address for service we will always write to the registered proprietor(s) of the property, whose addresses have been updated, to confirm that the application is genuine.

4.1 Former addresses

We may serve notice on previous addresses as well as any current addresses for service if we feel it is appropriate.

5 How can I update or change my address for service?

We do not charge a fee for updating your address for service.

The guidance below is for property owners only. If you have any other legal right to or interest in a property registered with us and you need to update your address for service, please write to the Land Registry office where your property is registered to let them know your new details. You can look on our website www.landregistry.gov.uk to find out which office to write to.

If you are a property owner and you need to change your address for service or wish to add a different address there is a leaflet containing an application form available to download from our website - www.landregistry.gov.uk/propertyfraud. You can also use the form to check that your address for service is correct. Please read the leaflet, print out the form, fill it in and send it to Freepost RSUY-SSUU-EJRX, Land Registry Gloucester Office, COA Team, Twyver House, Bruton Way, Gloucester GL1 1DQ enclosing any necessary documentary evidence as set out in the leaflet and in this guide.

If you are unable to visit our website then please write to the above Freepost address.

If you are not a conveyancer and apply to change your address for service, or authorise someone to apply on your behalf, you or the person applying on your behalf must supply evidence of identity. The evidence we need will depend on who the applicant or person lodging the application is.

We regret that we cannot confirm your contact details over the telephone for security reasons.

5.1 Evidence required

We require all of the following.

• A passport-sized photograph taken within the last three months (this does not need to be certified).

• Your date of birth.

• The length of time you have lived at your current address.

• Any other addresses you have lived at in the last five years.

We also require a photocopy of either:

• one item from section 5.1.1 List A or

• two items from section 5.1.2 List B but no more than one of each type.

5.1.1 List A

• The biodata page of a current valid full passport (ie the page displaying the passport number, expiry date, photograph etc).

• A current United Kingdom, EU, Isle of Man or Channel Islands photocard driving licence (not a provisional licence).

5.2.1 List B

The following must be postal statements not something received electronically. They must relate to the property you are applying to change the address for service for and show either your existing address or a new address that you are applying to add to the register.

• A utility bill less than three months old.

• A council tax bill for the current year.

• A mortgage statement for the mortgage accounting year just ended.

If you are unable to supply any of this information please call 0800 0283 404 to discuss whether alternative arrangements are possible or email protectyourproperty@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk

If you are applying on behalf of someone else you will need to supply the information referred to in section 5.1 Evidence required if you applying for yourself for yourself. If you are sending us two items from section 5.1.2 List B they must show your own address but do not need to relate to the property you are applying to change the address for service for.

You do not need to supply identity evidence information for the people you act for. However, you must make it clear who you are acting for. Your application will not be accepted unless either:

• the people you act for have signed section 5 of the application form referred to above, or

• you have provided documentary evidence for each one that demonstrates you are entitled to act for them. This could be a written, signed consent or some other form of documentary evidence such as a power of attorney or court order.

If you are an individual representing a corporate body, ie if the property is registered in the name of a limited company, you will need to lodge a completed form ID2 Certificate of identity for a body corporate as evidence of your identity and authority to represent the company. See Public Guide 20 – Evidence of identity – non-conveyancers for more information about how to do this and what evidence will be required.

5.2 Data protection

Land Registry may:

• share, check and verify the above information that you provide with:

• access information relating to you from the databases of the organisations and bodies mentioned above, for verification purposes.

By providing the information set out in this guidance you will be indicating your agreement to Land Registry processing your information in this way.

If you would like further information on this privacy policy please email dataprotection@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk