Get a Copy of a Property Lease
The lease for a leasehold flat or house in England and Wales is often held as a filed document against the registered title, and where a copy is held it can usually be ordered. Availability varies and has to be checked, so tell us the property details via our contact page and we quote before charging anything.
Leasehold in brief
A leasehold property is owned for a fixed term under a lease granted by the freeholder. Most flats in England and Wales are leasehold, because a flat sits within a building that someone else owns; some houses are leasehold too. A registered leasehold property has its own title register, separate from the freehold title of the building or estate.
The lease itself is the contract that created that leasehold. It sets out the term, the extent of the property, any ground rent, and the obligations of leaseholder and freeholder — repairs, alterations, insurance, service charges and more. The title register summarises and refers to the lease, but it does not reproduce its terms. Our guide to freehold and leasehold titles explains how the pieces fit together.
When people need a copy of the lease
- Checking ground rent, service charge or repair obligations
- Selling or remortgaging, when a conveyancer asks for the lease
- Considering a lease extension and needing the current term and terms
- Checking whether alterations, subletting or pets are permitted
- Resolving a disagreement with a freeholder or managing agent
- Replacing a lost paper copy
Why availability varies
The lease is frequently — but not always — held as a filed document against the registered title. Some leases are held in full, some only in part, and occasionally a lease referred to in the register is not available as a copy at all. Because of this, we handle lease requests as enquiries: we check what is held for your title before quoting, and we never charge for a document we cannot obtain.
How a lease enquiry works
- Contact us with the property address, and the title number if you know it. You do not need the title number — we can identify it.
- We check whether a copy of the lease appears to be held against the title.
- We send you a quote. Nothing is charged until you accept it.
- If you accept, we retrieve the copy and deliver it as a PDF through a secure link.
Request a copy of a lease
Send us the property details. We check whether a copy of the lease is held and quote before charging anything.
Make an enquiryWorth ordering alongside
If you do not already have it, a copy of the title register for the leasehold title is a useful companion to the lease: it shows the registered owner, the tenure where recorded, and the entries that refer to the lease. The register and plan bundle adds the map of the general extent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of my lease?
Often, yes. The lease for a leasehold property is frequently held as a filed document against the registered title, and where a copy is held it can usually be ordered. Availability varies and has to be checked, which is why we handle lease requests as enquiries and quote before charging.
I have lost my lease. Does that affect my ownership?
For a registered leasehold property, ownership is recorded in the title register, so losing your paper copy of the lease does not affect it. A copy of the lease is still worth having, because it sets out your obligations, rights and any ground rent or service charge terms.
How do I know if my property is leasehold?
The title register normally records the tenure where recorded. Most flats in England and Wales are leasehold; houses are usually freehold but can be leasehold. If you are unsure, order a copy of the title register or ask us to check as part of your enquiry.
How much does a copy of a lease cost?
There is no fixed price, because availability and the work involved vary from title to title. Contact us with the property details; we check what is held and send you a quote before anything is charged.
Why would I need a copy of the lease?
Common reasons include checking ground rent and service charge terms, understanding repair and alteration obligations, selling or remortgaging a leasehold property, extending a lease, and resolving disagreements with a freeholder or managing agent.
Is the lease the same as the title register?
No. The title register is the summary record of the registered leasehold title; the lease is the full contract that created it, setting out the detailed terms. The register refers to the lease, and the lease is often held as a filed document.
Related guides
Need the lease for a leasehold property?
Contact us with the property details and we’ll check availability and quote before charging anything.