Question 1

What is a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

A lease plan is a scaled drawing that clearly identifies the property or land included within a lease. It is used by HM Land Registry when registering new leases and must comply with published guidance (Practice Guide 40) so the land can be accurately identified. It shows the demised area edged in red, an Ordnance Survey based location plan, a north point and a stated metric scale.

Question 2

When do I need a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

A lease plan is commonly required when registering a new lease, registering a lease with more than seven years remaining, extending a lease, varying an existing lease, splitting a freehold into leasehold units, or registering commercial premises. In short, whenever the exact extent of a lease must be defined for HM Land Registry.

Question 3

Who needs a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

Homeowners, landlords, developers, solicitors, conveyancers, commercial property owners, housing associations and managing agents may all require lease plans, depending on the transaction. We work with all of them across England and Wales.

Question 4

Why are lease plans important?

Accepted Answer

A compliant lease plan helps HM Land Registry identify exactly what land or property is included in a lease. Poor-quality or unclear plans can result in requisitions or delays while further information is requested, holding up the transaction by weeks.

Question 5

What makes a lease plan compliant?

Accepted Answer

A compliant lease plan is drawn to an appropriate metric scale, clearly identifies the property with the demise edged in red, includes sufficient surrounding detail to locate it on the Ordnance Survey map, shows a north point, and follows HM Land Registry Practice Guide 40. It must not carry prohibited wording such as “for identification only”.

Question 6

What scale should a lease plan be?

Accepted Answer

The scale depends on the property type and location. Location plans for urban properties are commonly shown at 1:1250 and rural properties at 1:2500, while internal floor layouts use larger scales such as 1:100, 1:200 or 1:500 where appropriate. The scale must be stated on the drawing and the plan printed at that exact scale.

Question 7

Does every lease plan need a north point?

Accepted Answer

Where it is needed to show orientation, yes — and it almost always is. A north point is one of the standard requirements for a compliant plan so it can be read consistently against the Ordnance Survey map.

Question 8

Can I use an estate agent floor plan?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. Estate agent and EPC floor plans are designed for marketing rather than legal registration. They usually lack an accurate stated scale, red demise edging, a north point and an OS location plan, and often carry disclaimers that make them unacceptable to HM Land Registry.

Question 9

Can I draw my own lease plan?

Accepted Answer

You can, but it must still satisfy HM Land Registry’s published guidance. Plans drawn without knowledge of the requirements are a frequent cause of requisitions, so many people use a professional service to reduce the risk of delays. If you can supply accurate scaled drawings, we can also produce a compliant plan from them.

Question 10

What information do you need?

Accepted Answer

Typically the property address, any existing plans or drawings, the lease or your solicitor’s instructions, and details of any parking spaces, gardens, lofts or communal areas included in the lease. The more we have, the faster we can confirm a fixed price.

Question 11

Do you need to visit the property?

Accepted Answer

Not always. Many plans can be prepared remotely from suitable existing drawings, from £99 + VAT. More complex properties, or those without reliable drawings, need a site survey so the plan matches the property as built.

Question 12

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Most lease plans are completed within 3–5 working days, with a draft emailed within 48 hours of survey where possible. Larger commercial or complex developments may take longer. An urgent service is available for tight deadlines.

Question 13

Can you work anywhere in England and Wales?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We produce lease plans throughout England and Wales. Many projects can be completed remotely from supplied drawings, and site visits are available wherever they are required.

Question 14

How much does a lease plan cost?

Accepted Answer

Residential lease plans are £199 + VAT for one property up to and including 1,000 sq ft with a site survey, and commercial plans are £299 + VAT for one property up to and including 1,000 sq ft. Additional area above 1,000 sq ft is charged at 10p per sq ft + VAT. DIY plans from supplied drawings start from £99 + VAT. Multiple plans at one location are charged at reduced rates of £179 and £279 + VAT respectively.

Question 15

Is a lease plan cheaper than delaying registration?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes. A professionally prepared, compliant plan helps avoid the additional legal costs and delays caused by amendments or HM Land Registry requisitions, which can far exceed the cost of the plan itself.

Question 16

Do you offer an urgent lease plan service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An urgent option is available for +£99 + VAT per plan when you need to meet a tight exchange or registration deadline, subject to survey availability.

Question 17

How many printed copies are included?

Accepted Answer

Up to four printed hard copies per property are included as standard, printed to scale and posted to your chosen address. Additional copies are available at £10 each.

Question 18

Why was my lease plan rejected?

Accepted Answer

Common reasons include the property not being identifiable, an incorrect or missing scale, missing orientation (north point), a poor-quality drawing or scan, unclear boundaries, and insufficient surrounding detail. We produce plans to Practice Guide 40 standards to avoid these requisitions.

Question 19

Can you amend an existing lease plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In many cases an existing plan can be updated to meet requirements rather than recreated from scratch, which is often quicker and more cost-effective.

Question 20

My solicitor says my plan isn’t compliant. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We regularly prepare replacement plans that meet current HM Land Registry guidance, working from your existing plan or a fresh survey, and liaise with your solicitor to resolve the issue.

Question 21

What is the difference between a title plan and a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

A title plan identifies the extent of a registered title and is issued by HM Land Registry, generally showing general boundaries rather than exact legal boundaries. A lease plan is prepared by a specialist to identify the specific part of a property included within a lease, drawn to scale with red edging and internal detail.

Question 22

Can I use my title plan instead of a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

Not usually. They serve different legal purposes, and a title plan will not normally contain the level of detail needed for lease registration — particularly the internal layout and precise demise of an individual unit.

Question 23

How do I order a lease plan?

Accepted Answer

Send us your property details and any existing drawings or solicitor instructions through our quote form or by phone. We will confirm what is required and provide a fixed-price quotation, usually within one working day.

Question 24

What happens after I order?

Accepted Answer

We review the information, prepare your plan (surveying the property if needed), carry out quality checks against Practice Guide 40, send you a draft PDF to approve, then issue the final version and posted hard copies ready for your solicitor.

Question 25

Do you work directly with solicitors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We regularly liaise with solicitors, conveyancers, developers and homeowners throughout the process, and can send plans directly to your solicitor for submission.

Question 26

Can you prepare commercial lease plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes — including offices, retail units, industrial premises and mixed-use developments. Commercial lease plans are £299 + VAT for one property up to and including 1,000 sq ft, with additional area at 10p per sq ft + VAT.

Question 27

Can you prepare plans for flats?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Flats are one of the most common types of lease plan we produce, showing the individual demise against shared staircases, lobbies, gardens and parking.

Question 28

Do you prepare plans for lease extensions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We prepare lease extension plans for statutory and voluntary extensions, reflecting the current demise to HM Land Registry standards.

Question 29

Do you prepare transfer plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We also prepare transfer of part plans, title plans, boundary plans and other Land Registry-related drawings across England and Wales.

Question 30

Why choose Photoplan?

Accepted Answer

With over 20 years’ experience in property surveying and legal plans, and thousands of compliant lease plans produced, we prepare professional plans designed to meet current HM Land Registry guidance — helping homeowners, solicitors and developers complete transactions efficiently.

Lease Plan FAQs

Getting started

HM Land Registry requirements

The process

Costs

Common problems

Title plans

Ordering

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