Lease Plan

  1. Since 13 October 2003, per The Land Registration Act 2002, and Land Registration (Amendment) Rules 2008, the grant of any lease for a term of more than seven years, or the assignment of any tenancy with more than seven years unexpired must be registered at the Land Registry.
  2. The requirement means many existing tenancies that were granted before the change must now be registered as and when assigned.
  3. The Land Registry adopts a stringent approach to plans. Lease plans that the parties may have considered adequate for their purposes may not be suitable now. Even professionally-drawn plans could be rejected if they do not meet requirements. The approach can delay applications for registration while the parties deal with requisitions for clearer plans. Applications could be cancelled and cancellation can have serious consequences, such as not being able to safeguard title.
  4. To satisfy Land Registry requirements, lease plan must:
    1. Have a north point.
    2. Be drawn to scale and show the actual scale.
    3. Not be distorted - as can be caused by photocopying - or reduced in scale.
    4. Use preferred scales of 1:1250 to 1:500 for urban properties.
    5. Use preferred scale of 1:2500 for rural properties.
    6. Show measurements in metric units, to two decimal places.
    7. Not be marked or referred to as being “for identification only” .
    8. Not include any disclaimers as to accuracy.
    9. Show sufficient detail to enable the Registry to identify the land by reference to the OS map and where appropriate the landlord’s title plan.
    10. Show the general location of the land by reference to roads and other landmarks.
    11. Show the full extent of the land included.
    12. Show buildings in their correct, or intended, position.
    13. Identify different floor levels, where appropriate.
    14. Clearly identify the land - including separate areas such as parking spaces and bin stores - by edging, colouring or hatching.
    15. Have boundary and edging lines that are not so thickly drawn that they obscure other details.
    16. Show intricate boundaries with a larger scale or inset plan.
    17. Show undefined boundaries accurately and, where necessary, by reference to measurements.
    18. Coloured and/or hatched areas on the plan must match the text in the deed.
    19. The plan must be approved by both landlord and tenant and signed by the landlord.
  5. Further information may be obtained from Land Registry Publications.
  6. I have an informal association with a registered EPC-provider who will prepare lease plans. When the EPC and plan is carried out at the same time, the total cost is at a reduced rate. The provider is not registered for VAT so that would also reduce the cost.
To contact me, please email help@michaellever.co.uk or telephone 01531 631892

I look forward to helping you in some way.

Michael Lever
ML Guides - packed with information and free advice