Who owns the freehold of my flat? How to find your landlord's name and address

England and Wales · Law checked 24 October 2026 · Not legal advice

You need your landlord's correct name and address before you can do almost anything about a service charge: send a section 21 request, check a demand is valid under sections 47 and 48, or name the right respondent in a tribunal application. The managing agent is usually not your landlord. It acts for the landlord.

Ask in writing: section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985

If you make a written request to whoever demands your rent (or last received it), or to anyone acting as the landlord's agent, they must give you a written statement of the landlord's name and address within 21 days. Failing to do so without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence (fine up to level 4). "Landlord" here means your immediate landlord, which may be a head leaseholder rather than the freeholder.

If the landlord is a company: section 2

Once you have the company's name, you can ask in writing for the names and addresses of its directors and company secretary. The landlord must reply within 21 days, and an agent who receives the request must pass it on. You can also look the company up free on Companies House.

If the freehold has been sold: section 3

When the landlord's interest is sold, the new landlord must tell you in writing of the sale and its name and address by the next rent day, or within two months of the sale if that is later. Failing to do so is also an offence. Until notice is given, the old landlord stays jointly liable with the new one for breaches of the lease.

Check HM Land Registry

For £7 you can download the title register online, which shows the registered owner. Your own lease title usually refers to the landlord's title number. A downloaded copy isn't proof of ownership in court; an official copy costs more.

Freeholder, management company or both?

Some leases have three parties: landlord, leaseholder and a management company (often owned by the leaseholders) that provides the services and collects the service charge. Check your lease to see who is responsible for what, and address your letters to the right party.

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