How to Find a Property or Land Owner in the UK

May 1, 2024 - Reading time: 4 minutes
Updated on: April 6, 2025

Searching for the owner of a property or parcel of land in the UK can often be a time-consuming and frustrating process. At Private Investigators UK, we specialise in identifying and locating property and land owners across the country. Whether you're trying to reach a landlord, trace an individual listed on a title deed, or initiate a property acquisition, we deliver verified names, contact details, and up-to-date addresses with speed and discretion.

When Might You Need to Locate a Property Owner?

There are many situations where tracing a property or land owner becomes essential. You might:

• Wish to make an offer on a derelict or vacant building
• Need to contact the individual listed on a lease or title register
• Be seeking to settle land boundary disputes or gain access rights
• Have inherited neighbouring land or property and need ownership clarification

In these scenarios, expert tracing services can provide swift, actionable results where personal searches fall short.

How to Check Property Ownership in the UK

1. Conducting a Land Registry Search

The HM Land Registry is often the first and best route when trying to identify the owner of a property in England or Wales. It holds ownership records for approximately 85% of all land and property.

For just £3, you can download the property’s title register, which includes:

• The name of the current owner
• The title number
• The purchase price (if sold since 1993)
• Freehold or leasehold status
• Details of any mortgage lender (if applicable)

This document serves as a strong starting point, particularly when handed over to experienced trace agents for further investigation into the owner's whereabouts and contact information.

2. Checking Local Records and Historical Sources

For land not registered with the Land Registry—often including land owned by the Crown, church, or aristocracy—alternative routes must be taken.

Try speaking with neighbours or local residents who may have historical knowledge of the property’s ownership. In parallel, consult your local County Records Office or planning department. Ownership information is sometimes revealed in planning application documents and may be accessible upon request.

As part of our comprehensive investigation service, our agents often visit sites in person, review local records, and conduct discreet interviews within the surrounding area to uncover hard-to-find ownership information.

Enlisting Professional Trace Agents

While initial research can be done independently, getting detailed contact information often requires the tools and expertise of professional trace agents. At Private Investigators UK, we use licensed databases, open-source intelligence, and years of investigative experience to find individuals swiftly—even if they’ve moved, changed names, or gone to great lengths to remain unlisted.

Once you've acquired the relevant Land Registry documentation, we can continue the trace—locating the owner’s current address, phone number, email address, or even workplace, where appropriate and lawful.

Need to Trace a Land or Property Owner? Contact Us

Skip the delays, guesswork, and dead ends. Our experienced team of UK-based investigators is ready to assist. Whether you’re dealing with an absentee landlord, planning a property acquisition, or trying to resolve a land-related dispute, we can provide timely, accurate information that puts you in direct contact with the person you need to find.

Contact us today via our official website for a free quote or to discuss your case with one of our licensed experts. We trace individuals across the UK—and often abroad—with a high success rate and full client confidentiality.