Are Lease Agreements Public Record in the UK?
Long leases are usually on the public register at HM Land Registry. Ordinary residential tenancy agreements are private documents between landlord and tenant and are not published.
Here is how to tell which is which, how to check who owns a rented home, and what information will become public through the new landlord database.
General information about private renting in England, checked against the official sources listed below. It is not legal advice. If you have court papers, a bailiff date or a health risk at home, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice or a housing solicitor now.
Which leases are public
| Document | On the public register? |
|---|---|
| Lease of more than 7 years (e.g. a leasehold flat) | Yes, registered at HM Land Registry |
| Freehold title | Yes |
| Private tenancy agreement (assured periodic) | No, private between the parties |
| Deposit protection record | No, only the tenant and landlord can look it up |
How to find out who owns a rented home
You can buy a copy of the title register for most properties in England and Wales from HM Land Registry online. It shows the registered owner and any registered leases or mortgages. Tenants also have a legal right to ask for their landlord’s name and address, and the landlord must give it in writing.
Worked example
A tenant in a converted flat wants to know if the person collecting rent actually owns it. She searches HM Land Registry, buys the title register for the flat and sees a different name as registered owner, plus a 125-year lease. She writes to the person collecting rent asking for the landlord’s name and address. The reply shows the owner lets through a family member acting as agent. If the details had not matched, she could have reported concerns to the council.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland has its own land register run by Registers of Scotland and a public register of private landlords. Northern Ireland has Land and Property Services and a landlord registration scheme. The details here apply to England, and to Wales for HM Land Registry.
What the landlord database will show
The private rented sector database, opening region by region from 15 December 2026, will hold details of landlords and their rented properties. Some of that information will be visible to tenants so they can check a landlord before renting. Tenancy agreements themselves will still not be published.
Sources
These are the official and specialist pages this guide is checked against. Rules and forms change, so check the live page before you act.
Questions people ask
Can I see my landlord’s mortgage?
The title register shows whether a property has a registered mortgage and the lender’s name, but not the amount owed. A register entry is not the mortgage agreement or an account statement. It will not tell you the borrower’s repayment terms, current balance or whether the lender has consented to letting.
Can someone else see my tenancy agreement?
No. It is private, although courts, councils and deposit schemes may see it in a dispute. Share only the pages necessary for the recipient’s legitimate purpose, using a suitable channel. A public property register and a private tenancy agreement are different records; finding one does not give access to the other.
How do I get my landlord’s address?
Write to the letting agent or person collecting rent and keep a copy of your request. The statutory request for the landlord’s name and address is distinct from the address supplied for serving notices.
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