What Is a Title Register?

The title register in plain English

When property or land in England and Wales is registered, HM Land Registry creates a record for it called the title register. Think of it as the property's official file: it says who owns the land, what kind of ownership they have, and what rights and obligations come with it.

Each registered title has a unique title number — a short reference such as AB123456 — and its own register and title plan. A single street address can be covered by one title, or by several: a block of flats, for example, usually has a freehold title for the building and a separate leasehold title for each flat.

The three parts of the register

The register is arranged in three sections, each with its own job.

| Section | What it records | | --- | --- | | Property register | A description of the land, a reference to the title plan, and rights that benefit the property (for example, a right of way over a neighbour's driveway) | | Proprietorship register | The registered owner's name and address, the class of title, and sometimes the price paid | | Charges register | Matters that burden the property, such as mortgages, restrictive covenants and notices, where they are recorded |

The entries you see depend entirely on the individual title. A modern flat might have a long charges register full of estate covenants; a field might have almost nothing beyond a description and an owner.

What the register does not show

The register is a powerful document, but it has limits:

• It does not show the precise legal boundary of the land — the register refers to the title plan, which normally shows general boundaries only.
• It does not show sale history beyond what was recorded, and it never shows mortgage balances.
• It does not include the full text of every document it mentions. Deeds, transfers and leases referred to in the register are filed documents, which can sometimes be ordered separately.
• It cannot exist for unregistered land. A minority of land in England and Wales — often land that has not changed hands for decades — has never been registered.

When you might need a copy

People order the title register to:

1. Check who owns a property or piece of land.
2. Confirm whether a property is freehold or leasehold.
3. Read covenants or restrictions before buying, extending or developing.
4. Check whether a registered mortgage exists.
5. Find the title number before instructing a solicitor or surveyor.
6. Replace lost paper deeds with the current registered record.

How to get a copy

You can order a copy of the title register through our service: tell us the address, we check the details by hand, identify the registered title — contacting you first if more than one title could match — and deliver the PDF through a secure link. You can also buy directly from HM Land Registry, which usually costs less; our fee covers the human address checking, retrieval, secure delivery and support.

If you want the full picture of a registered title, order the register together with the title plan, because the two documents are designed to be read side by side.