How to Find Out Who Owns Land

Have you ever walked past an empty plot, an unused field, or a neighbouring property and wondered who owns it? Whether you’re thinking about buying land, resolving a boundary issue, or exploring development opportunities, how to find out who owns land is usually pretty simple thanks to the HM Land Registry search and the Registers of Scotland service.

In this guide, we explain how to find out who owns land in England, Wales and Scotland, how much it costs, and whether you need to use it to sell your house.

Why you might need to find out who owns land

There are several reasons people search for land ownership information, such as:

• You want to contact the owner about selling or purchasing land or property.
• You need to resolve a boundary dispute.
• You’re checking who owns land next to your home.
• You’re researching a development opportunity.

For homeowners considering a quick sale, understanding surrounding land ownership can also help assess potential value or development interest.

How to find out land ownership in England and Wales

The most reliable way to find out who owns land in England and Wales is through official records of property ownership and land transactions held by the HM Land Registry. As of 2026, over 89% of land in England and Wales is registered, and nearly all property sales or transfers are recorded, making it a go-to source for land ownership information.

Searching for land using the HM Land Registry

Searching for land or property ownership details using the Land Registry’s online service is fairly straightforward and you can simply search for land using a postcode, a property address or street name, or by using the map search.

Once you enter your search details, you’ll see a list of matching properties or land titles.

The title register

To find out who owns the land, you’ll need to download the title register, which contains essential legal information, including:

• Property Register: Describes the land, confirms whether it's freehold or leasehold, and outlines any rights benefiting the property.
• Proprietorship Register: Shows the name of the legal owners, their address for service, the purchase price, and any restrictions.
• Charges Register: Lists mortgages, lenders, restrictive covenants, and any rights others have over the land.

The title plan

You can also download the title plan, which shows the location and general boundaries of the land on a map - useful for confirming you’ve identified the correct plot.

How much does the HM Land Registry search cost?

Using the HM Land Registry service is relatively affordable, only £7 each for both the title register and title plan, and £11 for official copies sent by post. You can also view a property summary for free, but this does not provide full ownership information.

How to find out land ownership in Scotland

If the land is in Scotland, ownership information is recorded by Registers of Scotland using the land register and the sasine register.

Land register

The land register is a modern, map-based system and the easiest way to find land and property information, property prices and land boundaries in Scotland. To access more detailed information, such as who actually owns the property, there is a fee of £3.

Sasine Register

If the property isn't included in the land register, it may be recorded in the sasine register, which is an older, deeds-based system. Searches in the sasine register must be carried out manually, which costs £30 per property. The property’s search sheet includes information on current and historical owners, as well as a chronological list of recorded deeds affecting the property.

How to find out who owns land without an address

If the land doesn’t have a postal address, you can still search for it using the map function in HM Land Registry or Registers of Scotland. This allows you to pinpoint a specific area of land, which is especially useful for rural plots, woodland, or development sites.

What if land is not registered?

Occasionally, you might find that a plot of land doesn’t appear in a land registry search because the land is either unregistered or because the land is newly divided or recently transferred. Unregistered land is less common today but still exists, particularly with rural land, older properties that haven’t been sold for decades or land held by families for generations.

If land isn’t registered, you may need to speak to neighbours or nearby property owners or check with the local council. You can also review historical deeds or consult a land agent or solicitor.

Finding land owned by companies

Sometimes land is owned by a business rather than an individual, and in these cases, the registry will show the company name instead of a person. You can then search that company on Companies House to see details about the organisation, such as directors and registered addresses, which can be helpful if you’re trying to contact the owner about buying land.

What to do once you know who owns the land

After discovering who owns land, your next step depends on your goal. Are you looking to purchase land or check legal information?

• Contact the land owner if you’re interested in purchasing the land or discussing boundaries.
• Speak to a property solicitor who can help with negotiations, legal checks, or potential purchases.
• Research planning permission if you’re interested in development land, but check local planning rules first.

How to sell your house quickly without extra legal hassles

Understanding who owns land around your property is always useful, especially for planning or development. However, if your priority is to sell your home fast, Bettermove can help you move along the process much quicker than traditional estate agent routes. We handle the legal checks, such as verifying land ownership, checking charges, and confirming boundaries on your behalf. This means there's no need to chase paperwork, and you won’t have to pay for title registers or worry about unregistered land, allowing you to have a faster, hassle-free transaction.

Skip the hassle and the traditional estate agent route and focus on your next move, not the bureaucracy, and sell your home for cash.