Getting a copy of your lease from the Land Registry

A leasehold is the holy grail for any landlord, and essentially, it is your rulebook for tenants. It lays out the specific grounds on which you can end a tenancy and is, of course, legally binding. But, if you have been in the property business for a while or have had the same tenants for a long period of time, you may have conveniently misplaced your leasehold, in which case you will have to get a new copy from the land registry. 

If you own a land registry leasehold, which is any lease that has originally been granted for more than 7 years, you are protected by a digital safety net. Having a copy of your leasehold is a part of staying compliant. Here, we’ll walk you through the process of getting a leasehold from the land registry. 

Why you need your lease in 2026

The Title Register tells you who owns the property; it doesn’t contain the fine print found in the leasehold document. You need this fine print for: 

• Enforcing expectations: for example, being able to legally prevent tenants from installing hard flooring.
• Service charge disputes: it guides you on which service charges you’re allowed to bill for. 
• Lease extensions: you’ll need the leasehold, which gives you the original commencement date and term, to be able to calculate the premium. 
• The PRS database: the new landlord database requires you to have specific data that can only be found in the lease. 

How to get a copy of your lease from the land registry

Now that you have an idea of the different reasons you would need your lease from the land registry, let’s walk through the process: 

Step 1: Find your title number

You’ll need to find your title number before anything. You can’t order a lease from the land registry with the property’s address alone. 

1. Go to the official HM Land Registry search service.
2. Search by postcode.
3. Download the Title Register (current fee: £7.00).
4. The Title Number (e.g., SGL123456) will be at the very top.

Step 2: Form OC2 

You can’t simply download the leasehold because they will need to be scanned manually and or retrieved. So, you’ll need to use a Form OC2 to get the official version that will be accepted by a bank or the court. 

Here’s how to complete the application:

1. Download Form OC2 
2. Panel 2: Enter your title number.
3. Panel 7: This is the most important section. Tick the box for “Lease” and provide the date of the lease (found in Section A of your Title Register).
4. The fee: As of late 2025/2026, the fee is £11.00 for an official copy by post.
5. Payment: You can pay by cheque or postal order, or if you have an HMLR “Variable Direct Debit” account (common for professional landlords), you can quote your key number.

Costs involved 

Here are the official prices that you’ll need to keep in mind when getting a copy of your leasehold from the land registry: 

What if HMLR doesn’t have it?

There are times when the HMLR won’t have a copy of your leasehold. This usually happens with very old leases that date back to pre-1990, which have never been scanned. Here’s what you can do alternatively: 

1. Your mortgage lender: your lender will have needed to get a copy of your leasehold in order to approve the loan in the first place. Keep in mind that they charge an admin fee of between £25 and £50 for a copy. 
2. The counterpart lease: you may have a copy if you are the freeholder. This is the version that was signed by the tenant. Check the Deeds Pack in case. 
3. The original solicitor: law firms tend to keep files for up to 15 years, so if the property was purchased recently, you can get in touch with your solicitor. 

It is now a necessity to have a copy of your leasehold from the land registry, especially when dealing with a difficult tenant or preparing for a sale. This will be your first line of defence, so make sure that you keep a copy in your digital file, along with all other important documents.

Are you looking for reliable landlord insurance? Get in touch with our team of specialists at CIA Landlords on 01788 818 670 for more information and ensure you invest in the safety of your property.