Who Owns the Freehold of My House? — 3 Ways to Find Out (2026)

Last updated: 2026-07-05

Quick answer

To find who owns the freehold of your house, the definitive route is to order the freehold title register from HM Land Registry for £7 — it names the registered freeholder (the “proprietor”). If you're leasehold, you can also check your lease and service-charge paperwork, or ask your managing agent, both of which usually identify the freeholder or their agent. If the freehold is unregistered, HM Land Registry may hold no record and you may need to trace the deeds.

Method 1: Order the title register from HM Land Registry (£7)

The most reliable method is to buy the title register for the freehold title through the official GOV.UK Land Registry service for £7. The register's proprietorship section names the registered freeholder and their address for service. For a flat, you may need the freehold title for the whole building rather than your leasehold title — search by the building address. (Note: HouseCheckup is an independent property-intelligence service and is not HM Land Registry; the £7 register is bought directly from the government.)

Method 2: Check your lease and service-charge documents

If your home is leasehold, the freeholder (or their managing agent) is usually named in your lease, your ground-rent demands and your service-charge statements. The party you pay ground rent to is either the freeholder or acting for them, so your annual paperwork is often the quickest place to look before paying for anything.

Method 3: Ask the managing agent or freeholder's agent

Where a managing agent runs the building, they can tell you who the freeholder is and how to contact them — useful if you're planning a lease extension or to buy the freehold. If you own a share of freehold, the freehold is held by a company the leaseholders own between them, and the company details will be on your paperwork or at Companies House.

What if the freehold is unregistered?

Around most of England and Wales is now registered, but some freeholds — especially those unchanged for decades — remain unregistered, so HM Land Registry holds no title for them. In that case you may need to trace the paper deeds, ask a solicitor to investigate, or apply to register the title. Our guide to whether a property is freehold or leasehold explains how to confirm the tenure first.

Buying a leasehold home? Confirm the tenure and freeholder first

Knowing who owns the freehold — and the lease length and ground rent — matters before you offer on a leasehold property. HouseCheckup runs 15+ checks on the exact address, drawing tenure and title details from HM Land Registry alongside flood, planning and EPC.£24.99 (Complete), one-off.

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Frequently asked questions

The definitive way is to order the freehold title register from HM Land Registry for £7 — it names the registered freeholder. You can also check your lease, ground-rent demands and service-charge statements, or ask your managing agent, all of which usually identify the freeholder or their agent.

The official HM Land Registry title register, which names the freeholder, costs £7 to download from GOV.UK. Checking your own lease or service-charge paperwork, or asking your managing agent, costs nothing. Beware third-party sites that charge more for the same government document.

Some older freeholds are unregistered, meaning HM Land Registry holds no title for them. In that case you may need to trace the paper title deeds, instruct a solicitor to investigate ownership, or apply for first registration. Unregistered freeholds are increasingly rare but still exist, particularly where ownership hasn't changed in many years.

With share of freehold, the freehold is usually held by a company that the leaseholders in the building own jointly, so you own a share of the freeholder rather than the freehold of your individual flat outright. The company's details appear on your paperwork and at Companies House, and decisions about the building are made collectively.