general

TR1 form: what it is, who signs and what happens next

What the TR1 form is, when you need it, who signs and witnesses it, whether you can complete it yourself, and the Land Registry steps and fees after.

4 min read
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
By Your Property Check team

Part 1 of 8

What the TR1 form is

GOV.UK calls it "Registered title(s): whole transfer (TR1)". It is used to transfer the whole of the property in one or more registered titles. It can also transfer unregistered property that is being registered for the first time. If only part of a registered title is changing hands, GOV.UK says to use form TP1 instead.

In plain terms, the TR1 is the document that records the seller handing the property to the buyer. The contract says what has been agreed. The TR1 is the deed that carries out the transfer.

Part 2 of 8

When you need one

You need a TR1 when the whole of a registered property is being transferred. A normal house sale with a single registered title is the usual case. Our transfer of equity guide covers the related situation where an owner is added or removed.

If you are not sure the property is registered or what its title covers, read the register first. Our guide to a Land Registry search shows how to get the title register and plan, and the freehold or leasehold check tells you what you are dealing with.

For more complex transactions, GOV.UK points to HM Land Registry's practice guide 21, and says that guide does not cover simple transfers.

Part 3 of 8

Who signs it

GOV.UK's guidance says: "All the transferors must execute (legally sign) the deed." The transferors are the sellers. If panel 10 or 11 is completed, the transferees, who are the buyers, must also sign.

Because it is a deed, the signature has to be witnessed:

GOV.UK says the witness should be independent, and preferably someone who knows you well.
One party to the transfer cannot witness the signature of another party.
A spouse, civil partner or co-habitee can witness if they are not a party to the deed, but the guidance says this is best avoided.
One witness may witness more than one signature, but must complete their details under each signature they witness.

Part 4 of 8

The completion date

Panel 3 takes the completion date. GOV.UK says: "Do not do this until after the transfer has been executed." So the deed is signed first, and the date is added when completion actually happens. The sale itself runs as GOV.UK describes it: contracts are exchanged, then ownership is transferred at completion.

Part 5 of 8

Can you complete it yourself?

Yes. GOV.UK's guidance says: "You don't have to use a solicitor or other legal adviser to complete the form and send it to us." It also warns that a mortgage lender may insist on a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, and the TR1 page itself says land registration is complex and suggests you consider legal representation.

If you act without a conveyancer, the application will need evidence of identity for each party. Our ID1 form guide explains how that works. The guidance also says that all required documents must be sent together with the TR1, and that a Stamp Duty Land Tax certificate is needed if that tax is payable. Buyers can estimate the tax with the stamp duty calculator.

Part 6 of 8

What happens after you sign

Signing the TR1 does not by itself change the register. GOV.UK says that if the property is registered, you must complete form AP1. If it is not yet registered, you must complete form FR1. Our AP1 form guide walks through that application.

The completed forms go to HM Land Registry with the correct fee. Business customers can apply online through Business e-services. Members of the public send applications by post to the address on GOV.UK's "Address for applications" page.

Part 7 of 8

Land Registry fees for a sale

For a sale, GOV.UK says the fee is based on the price, which is usually the purchase price, under what it calls Scale 1. The figures below are the ones on the fees page when we read it on 30 October 2026, which it said came into effect on 9 December 2024.

Price paid	By post	Portal or Business Gateway (whole title)
£0 to £80,000	£45	£20
£80,001 to £100,000	£95	£40
£100,001 to £200,000	£230	£100
£200,001 to £500,000	£330	£150
£500,001 to £1,000,000	£655	£295
£1,000,001 and over	£1,105	£500

GOV.UK adds that Scale 1 whole transfers are reduced by 55% when applied for online, compared with the postal fee. Gifts and transfers with no money paid use a different scale. Fees change, so check the fees page before you pay.

Part 8 of 8

Common mistakes

Writing the completion date before the deed is signed.
Using the wrong form for a part of a title, where TP1 is the right one.
Letting a party witness another party's signature.
Sending the TR1 without the AP1 or FR1 and the other documents the application needs.

If anything about your own transfer is unusual, take advice from a conveyancing solicitor. This page is general information, not legal advice. Our glossary entry for the TR1 form gives a short definition.

Our take

The TR1 comes late, so check the property first

Our view: the TR1 carries out a transfer already agreed in the contract, so the real risk sits earlier. The common mistakes on the form are dating it before signing, using it where TP1 is right, and letting a party witness another party's signature. None of those tells you whether the property is a sound purchase.

Before you offer, OfferCheck is a plain-English risk report on any UK address: crime, flood, planning, tenure and more, every figure sourced. There is a free snapshot, and the full OfferCheck Report is from £4.99. Our stamp duty calculator works out the tax behind the certificate you will need.

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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 a TR1 form used for?

It transfers the whole of the property in one or more registered titles, or unregistered property being registered for the first time. For only part of a registered title, GOV.UK says to use form TP1 instead.

Who has to sign the TR1?

All the transferors must execute the deed, and the transferees must also sign if panel 10 or 11 is completed. Each signature needs an independent witness, and one party cannot witness another party's signature.

Can I fill in a TR1 without a solicitor?

GOV.UK says you do not have to use a solicitor or other legal adviser to complete it. A mortgage lender may still insist on one, and you will need identity evidence for the application that follows.

Is the TR1 the same as the AP1?

No. The TR1 is the transfer deed. The AP1 is the application that asks HM Land Registry to change the register. For a registered property, GOV.UK says you must complete AP1 as well.

How much does it cost to register a transfer?

For a sale, the fee depends on the price paid and whether you apply by post or online. The Scale 1 table above shows the GOV.UK figures we read. Check the fees page before paying, as fees change.

Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed 30 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.