How Companies and Trusts Appear on Land Registry Records

Companies and Trusts on Land Registry Records

A significant proportion of land in England and Wales is owned by companies, trusts, and other corporate bodies. Understanding how these entities appear on the register helps you search for and interpret corporate-owned titles.

Company-Owned Properties

When a limited company owns land, the company is registered as proprietor in Section B of the title register. The entry shows:

The company name as registered at Companies House

The company's registered office address

The Companies House registration number (for most entries)

Searching by Company Number

Company names can change, and different operating names may not match the registered name. Searching by Companies House registration number is the most reliable way to find all titles owned by a specific company. The registration number never changes, even if the company is renamed.

Overseas Companies

Overseas companies that own UK land must register with Companies House under the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009. They appear on the register with their registered name and country of incorporation.

Since 2022, the Register of Overseas Entities requires overseas companies to declare their beneficial owners. This was introduced to increase transparency in foreign property ownership.

Trust-Owned Properties

Trusts don't have a separate legal identity. Properties held on trust are registered in the names of the trustees, not the trust itself. The register may include a restriction such as "no disposition by a sole proprietor" to protect beneficiaries' interests.

Common types of trust property holdings:

**Bare trusts**: Often used for tax planning; the trustee holds legal title for a named beneficiary

**Discretionary trusts**: Trustees have discretion over how the property is managed and who benefits

**Charitable trusts**: Land held for charitable purposes

Local Authorities and Government Bodies

Properties owned by councils, government departments, and statutory bodies are registered under their formal legal names. The Land Registry's CCOD and OCOD datasets are useful for identifying all properties held by these organisations.

Search for Corporate-Owned Properties

Find properties owned by companies using the company number search on Online Land Registry.