Common Reasons Lease Plans Are Rejected
A rejected lease plan can delay a transaction by weeks. These are the most common reasons HM Land Registry raises a requisition, and how to avoid each one.
Incorrect or missing scale
The single most common problem is scale. If the plan is not drawn to a recognised metric scale, the scale is not stated, or the plan is printed with "fit to page" so the printed scale no longer matches the stated one, HM Land Registry cannot rely on the measurements and will reject it. Always print at the true scale on A3 or A4.
No north point or contradictory orientation
A missing north point, or a north point on the floor plan that contradicts the location plan, makes the plan ambiguous. The orientation must be present and consistent across the drawing.
Unclear or incomplete demise
If the red edging does not clearly follow the walls, omits an area let under the lease, or includes areas that are not demised, the plan will be queried. Gardens, lofts, terraces and parking included in the lease must be shown, and shared areas must be distinguished.
Insufficient detail to identify the property
The location plan must contain enough surrounding detail — roads, neighbouring buildings, recognisable features — to identify the land on the Ordnance Survey map. A plan that floats in isolation, with no context, can be rejected.
“For identification only” and other disclaimers
Plans carrying wording such as "for identification purposes only" undermine the precision the Registry requires and are not acceptable for defining a demise. Marketing or EPC floor plans, which commonly carry such disclaimers, should never be submitted as lease plans.
The reliable way to avoid all of these issues is to have the plan produced by an experienced team that works to the practice guides daily. If a requisition is raised, we review it, amend the plan and reissue at no drama.
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