general

AP1 form: what it is and when you need it

The AP1 form explained: what HM Land Registry uses it for, when you need it, how its panels work, what it costs and when to use a conveyancer.

5 min read
Last reviewed 21 October 2026
By Your Property Check team

Part 1 of 11

What the AP1 form is

AP1 is called "Change the register" on GOV.UK. HM Land Registry says: "Use the AP1 form to change the register for a property including changing your name." It also says to use the form to register most transactions on a property.

Think of it as the application that asks the registry to update its record. The other documents you send with it, such as a signed transfer or a mortgage discharge, are what justify the change.

Part 2 of 11

When you need an AP1

GOV.UK's guidance on completing AP1 gives examples of what it is for, including:

discharging a mortgage;
an assent;
changing an address for service;
changing your name on the register, with separate GOV.UK guidance for a name change after marriage or civil partnership.

GOV.UK also says that, for most transactions, you will normally need to submit another form and/or appropriate evidence as well.

Part 3 of 11

AP1 and the transfer form

A transfer is the document that actually moves ownership. For the whole of a registered title, GOV.UK points to form TR1, and says form TP1 is for transferring only part. TR1 and AP1 do different jobs: the transfer moves the property, and the AP1 is the application to register the change.

The AP1 guidance has a panel for listing every document you send, so a signed transfer sits there alongside the AP1. GOV.UK's pages do not spell out every combination, so a conveyancer will confirm the exact set for your case.

Part 4 of 11

Do you need a conveyancer?

Anyone can apply without a conveyancer. But GOV.UK warns that "land registration is complex, designed to protect legal and financial interests in property", that there can be significant consequences for any error, and asks you to consider a conveyancer before applying without one.

GOV.UK's guidance for people acting without legal representation adds that searches and enquiries must be done properly, that a conveyancer's professional insurance covers you if things go wrong, and that most mortgage lenders require a conveyancer. Panel 7 of the form is for the professional firm or the citizen lodging the application, so both routes are expected. If you are buying with a conveyancer, ask them who will lodge the AP1 and when.

Part 5 of 11

How to fill in AP1: panel by panel

GOV.UK's guidance walks through the panels. In summary:

Panel 1: the council that receives your council tax, such as a unitary authority, London borough or district council.
Panel 2: the title number or numbers.
Panel 3: the first box if the application covers the whole title. The second is only for part of a title, which usually needs a description or a plan.
Panel 4: each application on its own line, with its value. If no money changes hands, give the worth of the property. GOV.UK says a valuation by anyone acting in good faith is accepted.
Panel 5: a list of every document sent. Deeds and documents must be sent as certified copies.
Panel 6: the names of the people applying to change the register.
Panel 7: the details of the professional firm or the citizen sending the application. Only the person named here is dealt with.
Panel 8: leave blank.
Panel 9: complete if you need to change an address for service.
Panel 10: only needed when registering a new mortgage.
Panel 11: any disclosable overriding interests, such as leases of 1 to 7 years.
Panels 12 to 14: evidence of identity for the parties and the person in Panel 7.
Panel 15: the applicant named in Panel 6 signs and dates.

GOV.UK says there is no need for a covering letter. Copies and originals are destroyed after scanning, except "cherished documents" such as birth, marriage and death certificates, passports and probate certificates, which are returned.

Part 6 of 11

What to send with it

HM Land Registry publishes a checklist for registered land applications. It names, where appropriate:

SDLT 5, evidence of Stamp Duty Land Tax compliance. You can estimate the tax first with our stamp duty calculator;
Form RXC, where possible, for an acceptable consent or certificate of compliance;
ID1, ID2 or ID3, the identity forms, where required, for each party;
supporting evidence such as marriage or death certificates, probate or a power of attorney, to explain name differences.

Part 7 of 11

What the AP1 costs

The AP1 page lists no fee for the form itself. The registry fee depends on the transaction. GOV.UK's fees page uses two scales:

Scale 1 is based on the price, rent or other money paid, for sales, transfers for payment and leases.
Scale 2 covers transactions without money changing hands, such as gifts, assents and charges, and is generally based on the property's value less any outstanding charges.

The fees page lists the amounts by value band, with separate columns for post and for the portal or Business Gateway, which are business routes. We do not repeat the figures here because they change. Look up the current amount on GOV.UK before you pay.

You pay by cheque or postal order made payable to "HM Land Registry", or by a direct debit arrangement already in place with the registry.

Part 8 of 11

Where to send it

GOV.UK says to send the completed form with the correct fee to HM Land Registry's standard address. Members of the public use the standard Citizen Centre address listed on the "Address for applications" page. Business customers can also submit applications online through Business e-services.

Part 9 of 11

Common mistakes to avoid

GOV.UK's checklist is a 20-point list, and its points cover stamp duty, fees, payment, names, execution of deeds, addresses and supporting documents. A few things worth checking before you send an application:

the title number is right;
the fee is the correct scale and value band;
names match the register, with evidence if they differ;
copies of deeds are certified;
identity evidence is complete for each party.

Part 10 of 11

Before you start: check what the register says

It helps to read the current register before you complete anything. Our guide to a Land Registry search explains how to get the title register and plan. If you are unsure whether a home is freehold or leasehold, our freehold or leasehold check shows how to find out.

Part 11 of 11

How long it takes

GOV.UK's AP1 pages do not give a processing time, so we do not quote one. Your conveyancer or the registry can tell you the current position for your application.

This page is general information, not legal advice. For your own transaction, speak to a conveyancing solicitor.

Our take

The form is the easy part; the evidence is not

Our view: the AP1 itself is a straightforward application. What trips people up is everything around it, the fee scale, certified copies, names that match the register and identity evidence. GOV.UK warns that errors can have significant consequences and asks you to consider a conveyancer, and we think that is sensible whenever a purchase or a mortgage depends on the application.

What Your Property Check adds is the groundwork. Our stamp duty calculator covers SDLT, LBTT and LTT, including first-time buyer and additional-property rates, so you can see the tax figure that goes with the SDLT 5 evidence before you apply.

Check stamp duty

Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.

Questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

What is an AP1 form?

It is the HM Land Registry form called "Change the register". GOV.UK says to use it to change the register for a property, including changing your name, and to register most transactions on a property.

When do I need to use an AP1 form?

When you apply to change the register of a registered property, for example to discharge a mortgage, record an assent, change an address for service or change your name. For most transactions GOV.UK says you also need another form or evidence.

How do I fill in an AP1 form?

Work through the panels in order: council, title number, whole or part of the title, each application with its value, documents sent, applicants, who is lodging it, identity evidence and signature. GOV.UK has a guide to completing form AP1.

How much does an AP1 application cost?

The fee depends on the transaction. GOV.UK sets a scale 1 fee for sales and leases and a scale 2 fee for gifts, assents and charges, by value band. Check the current table on GOV.UK.

Can I send an AP1 without a solicitor?

Yes. GOV.UK says anyone can apply without legal representation, but warns that errors can have serious consequences and asks you to consider a conveyancer. Most mortgage lenders require one.

Is AP1 the same as TR1?

No. TR1 is the transfer form for the whole of a registered title, according to GOV.UK. AP1 is the application to change the register. A signed transfer can be one of the documents listed on the AP1.

Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.