Can I See My House Deeds Online?

The very short answer to the question is that yes you can – but it’s going to cost you money. How much money will depend on what exactly you want to see, and whether you need the information for an official or legal purpose, or just for general interest. Here’s our guide to accessing your information online.

Legal, Official Documents

In situations where you need to send off deeds or documents to a third party like a lawyer or a bank, then it is essential that these are Official Copies. An official copy is issued by the Land Registry only and clearly marked as an official copy.

Proof of Ownership

The Land Registry started to go digital in 1990, and most properties which have changed hands since then will have their information registered. The key documents to prove ownership are the Title Register and Title Plan. Title in legal terms means ownership and official copies of these documents are what you will need to prove without any doubt who is the owner of a particular property.

  • Title Register – an official copy of the title register will show who owns the property, whether it’s leasehold or freehold, and details of any rights of way or restrictions over the property.
  • Title Plan – this is a map showing the location of the property, usually with coloured lines marking the boundaries. Usually the colours will be explained on the register, not the plan, so you have to look at both together.

Getting Official Copies

If you require official copies of any paperwork associated with the ownership of your property, you will have to get in touch with HM Land Registry. The two forms you will need are OC1 for the Title Register or Title Plan, and OC2 for filed deeds. The Land Registry are usually fairly quick at turning round requests for official copies and it takes around a week. The fee is £7 per any single document.

Individuals are not able to access official copies of their documents online. Although the Land Registry does have a service which allows you to log into the website and download “views” of the information held. These are fine for general interest purposes, house history research or similar. However, they are not the legal official copies and cannot be used for any boundary disputes or dealings with the bank. Always clarify what sort of documents are required before you start paying more than you need to.

Third Party Suppliers

Conveyancing companies and lawyers who deal with the Land Registry every day, often have a corporate account with them. This allows the lawyer to download official copies from the Land Registry right away rather than having to request them by post, speeding up the whole property conveyancing process. It’s worth asking your lawyer whether they will do this for you, but they will also charge for the service. If you do not require your information immediately and are prepared to wait a week, it’s usually better taking the postal approach.