What Is a Lease Plan?

A simple definition

A lease plan is a scaled drawing used to identify property ownership boundaries for leasehold registration with HM Land Registry. It defines the demised area being leased — edged in red — and shows the property’s position on an Ordnance Survey based location plan. In short, it answers a single legal question precisely: exactly which area does this lease cover?

Lease plans are required whenever a lease of more than seven years is registered, when a lease is extended or varied, and when part of a registered title is transferred. Without a compliant plan, HM Land Registry cannot process the application.

What a lease plan must contain

A compliant lease plan is more than a floor plan. It must be drawn to a recognised metric scale (commonly 1:100 or 1:200), show the demised area edged in red, and distinguish communal or shared areas — usually in green. It must include a north point, a scale bar and labelled floor levels, and be accompanied by an Ordnance Survey location plan so the property can be identified on the OS map.

It must also avoid disqualifying features. Plans marked "for identification purposes only", drawn to an unstated scale, or printed using "fit to page" are routinely rejected because their measurements cannot be relied upon.

How a lease plan differs from a marketing floor plan

Estate agency and EPC floor plans look similar but are not drawn to Land Registry standards. They lack accurate scale, red demise edging, a north point and an OS location plan. Using one for registration will lead to rejection. A lease plan is a legal document; a marketing plan is a sales tool.

When do you need one?

You need a lease plan to register a new lease over seven years, to extend or vary an existing lease, to transfer part of a title, and often when selling a leasehold property where no compliant plan exists on the title. If you are unsure, your conveyancing solicitor will confirm whether the Registry requires a plan for your transaction.