To get a lease plan, you normally send the property address, any existing plans or lease wording, and details of what your solicitor, conveyancer, or HM Land Registry has requested. A lease plan provider will then confirm whether a site visit is needed, prepare a Land Registry compliant plan, issue a draft for checking, and send the final PDF for solicitor or Land Registry use.
If you are not sure exactly what kind of plan you need, that is very common. Many people first get in touch because they have been told “we need a plan” during a sale, lease extension, deed of variation, transfer, or registration matter, but they have not been told precisely what type of plan is required.
This guide explains the usual process step by step.
Step 1: Check what your solicitor or Land Registry has asked for
The best starting point is the wording of the request you have received.
That might be an email from your solicitor, a query from a conveyancer, a Land Registry requisition, or a note saying that the existing plan is missing, unclear, out of date, or not compliant.
Useful phrases to look out for include:
- lease plan
- Land Registry compliant plan
- HMLR compliant plan
- plan suitable for registration
- plan showing the demise
- deed of variation plan
- transfer plan
- title plan
- TP1 plan
- plan showing retained land or transferred land
If you have the solicitor’s email, you can simply forward it to us. You do not need to translate everything into technical language first. We'll be able to tell you whether you need a standard lease plan, a deed of variation plan, a transfer plan, a title plan, or something else.
Step 2: Send the property address, lease wording, title details, or existing drawings
Once you get in touch, we'll need some basic property details.
The most useful information is:
- the full property address
- any existing lease plan
- any existing title plan
- the relevant lease wording, if available
- any architect’s drawings, measured drawings, estate agent floor plans, or previous plans
- any email or requisition from your solicitor or HM Land Registry
- a short explanation of what is happening, for example, sale, lease extension, new lease, remortgage, deed of variation, transfer of part, or first registration
Don't worry if you only have some of these documents, it's still usually enough to begin the conversation.
For example, if you have a flat sale underway and your solicitor has said the lease plan is missing or unsuitable, you can send the address, the solicitor’s request, and any plan you already have - we can then advise what is likely to be needed.
If you already have good existing drawings, it may be possible to prepare the plan remotely. You can read more about that here: Plans from Existing Drawings.
Step 3: Decide whether a site visit is needed
Not every lease plan requires a site visit.
A site visit is usually needed when there are no reliable existing drawings, the layout has changed, the plan must show details that are not already documented, or the accuracy of the existing plan cannot be trusted.
A site visit may also be the safest option where the property includes shared areas, unusual boundaries, gardens, parking spaces, bin stores, roof terraces, loft spaces, extensions, commercial areas, or different floor levels.
However, a lease plan can often be prepared without a site visit if suitable drawings already exist. This is especially likely where there are clear architect’s drawings, accurate scaled plans, or reliable previous drawings that can be adapted into a Land Registry compliant format.
The key question is not just “is there a drawing?” but “is the drawing good enough to rely on?”
A professional provider should review the material first and tell you whether a remote plan is sensible or whether a measured site survey would be more reliable.
Step 4: The plan is prepared to HM Land Registry requirements
A lease plan is not just a normal floor plan. It needs to show the property clearly enough for legal and registration purposes.
For HM Land Registry use, the plan usually needs to show the relevant extent clearly, be drawn to a suitable scale, include a north point, show enough surrounding detail to identify the property, and match the wording of the lease or deed.
Depending on the property, the plan may also need to show:
- the demised area
- shared or common parts
- gardens
- parking spaces
- bin stores
- roof terraces
- loft spaces
- storage areas
- access routes
- different floor levels
- rights of way or other relevant areas
This is where accuracy matters. If the wording of the lease says one thing and the plan shows another, the application can be delayed while the inconsistency is resolved.
A good lease plan should make the legal extent of the property clear, not create new uncertainty.
Step 5: You receive a draft for checking
Once the plan has been prepared, you will normally receive a draft.
The draft stage is important because it gives you, your solicitor, or your conveyancer an opportunity to check that the plan reflects the instruction correctly.
At this stage, you are usually checking practical things such as:
- the property address
- the floor level
- the layout
- the areas included in the lease
- any gardens, terraces, parking spaces, storage areas, or shared areas
- whether the plan matches the solicitor’s instructions
- whether the plan matches the lease wording or deed wording
You are not expected to become a technical drawing expert. The aim is simply to catch anything that does not match the property or the legal documents before the final version is issued.
Step 6: The final PDF is sent to you or your solicitor
After the draft has been checked and any amendments have been made, the final plan is issued as a PDF.
This can usually be sent directly to you, your solicitor, or your conveyancer.
The final PDF can then be used as part of the lease, deed, transfer, registration, or Land Registry submission, depending on the type of matter.
If HM Land Registry or a solicitor asks for a further amendment, we can normally deal with this swiftly and issue a revised version.
Can I get a lease plan without a site visit?
Yes, in some cases.
A lease plan can often be prepared without a site visit if there are reliable existing drawings. These might include architect’s drawings, scaled floor plans, previous measured drawings, or other plans that are clear enough to work from.
This can be a fast and cost-effective route, particularly for straightforward flats, apartments, houses, or commercial units where the layout is already well documented.
However, a site visit is usually better where drawings are missing, unclear, old, not to scale, or inconsistent with the current property. A visit may also be needed where the plan must show exact boundaries, shared spaces, gardens, roof spaces, parking, extensions, or other features that are not clearly shown in the existing material.
If you are not sure, the simplest next step is to send what you have and ask whether it is suitable. Lease Plans Online can review existing drawings and confirm whether a remote plan is possible.
Read more: Plans from Existing Drawings.
How long does it take to get a lease plan?
Turnaround depends on the property, the documents available, whether a site visit is needed, and how quickly any queries can be answered.
For many straightforward lease plan instructions, the process can be completed quickly once the required information has been supplied. Where a site visit is needed, the timescale will also depend on access arrangements and location.
If your matter is urgent, say so at the start. Lease plan requests often arise during live conveyancing, lease extension, sale, or refinancing work, so it is helpful to flag any deadline early.
You can contact Lease Plans Online to explain the situation and ask what timescale is realistic for your property.
How much does a lease plan cost?
The cost of a lease plan depends on the type of plan, the size and complexity of the property, whether a site visit is required, the location, the number of floors, and the quality of any existing drawings.
As a guide, Lease Plans Online publishes prices for remote lease plans, lease plans with a site survey, commercial lease plans, deed of variation plans, transfer plans, title plans, and commonhold plans.
For a straightforward property, a remote plan may cost less than a plan requiring a measured site visit. More complex properties, commercial buildings, multiple floors, unusual boundaries, or urgent instructions may need a specific quotation.
You can view the current pricing guide here: Lease Plans Online Prices.
Who can prepare a lease plan?
A lease plan should be prepared by someone who understands HM Land Registry requirements and knows how to present property information clearly for legal and registration purposes.
It is not enough for the plan to look neat. The plan needs to be accurate, correctly scaled, clearly marked, and consistent with the lease or deed wording.
Lease Plans Online prepares Land Registry compliant lease plans for flats, apartments, houses, commercial property, and related property matters. Our services are used by homeowners, leaseholders, freeholders, solicitors, conveyancers, managing agents, and developers.
You can see examples of completed plan styles here: Example Plans.
What happens if the plan is rejected?
If a plan is not accepted, HM Land Registry or the solicitor may raise a query, ask for clarification, request amendments, or require a replacement plan.
This can happen where the plan is unclear, not to scale, inconsistent with the deed, missing necessary information, difficult to relate to the Ordnance Survey map, or not precise enough about the extent of the property.
If this happens, don't panic!. The next step is usually to identify the exact issue, review the wording of the request, and amend or replace the plan as needed.
This is one of the reasons it is worth using a provider who understands Land Registry compliant plans from the start. A properly prepared plan can help avoid unnecessary delay, especially during a sale, lease extension, deed of variation, or registration matter.
Do I need a lease plan, a title plan, or a deed of variation plan?
It depends on what is being documented.
A lease plan usually shows the extent of a leasehold property. This is common for flats, apartments, commercial units, lease extensions, new leases, and situations where a leasehold demise needs to be clearly defined.
A title plan or transfer plan is usually more relevant where land is being transferred, divided, registered for the first time, or dealt with as part of a title matter. This might include a TP1 transfer, a boundary change, a garden land sale, or a transfer of part.
A deed of variation plan is usually needed where an existing lease no longer matches the property or needs to be formally updated. This can happen after a loft conversion, extension, roof terrace, layout change, or redefinition of the demise.
If you have been told that you need “a plan” but are not sure which kind, you can send the solicitor’s wording or Land Registry query and ask for advice before instructing us.
For altered leasehold properties, read more here: Deed of Variation Plans.
What should I send to get started?
The quickest way to start is to send:
- the property address
- your solicitor’s request, if you have one
- any existing lease plan or title plan
- any lease wording or deed wording
- any architect’s drawings or floor plans
- a short note explaining what the plan is needed for
That is usually enough to assess the likely route.
If existing drawings are suitable, the plan may be prepared remotely. If not, a site visit can be arranged where required.
Ready to get a lease plan?
If you need a Land Registry compliant lease plan, or you are not sure exactly what your solicitor has asked for, Lease Plans Online can help you work out the right next step.
You can send the property address, any existing drawings, and the wording of the request, and we will advise whether a site visit is needed and what type of plan is likely to be required.
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