Who is my landlord? How to find your landlord's name and address
You have a legal right to know. In England and Wales, write to your letting agent, or whoever collects the rent, and ask for your landlord's name and address. They must answer in writing within 21 days. Ignoring the request without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence with a fine of up to £2,500. If that fails, the HM Land Registry title register shows who owns the property for £7.
Five ways to find your landlord, quickest first
- Read your tenancy agreement, deposit certificate and gas safety record
- Send a written request to the agent (letter below): 21 days to reply
- Download the title register from HM Land Registry: £7
- If the owner is a company, look up its directors at Companies House: free
- Ask your council's private rented housing team
Checked against the legislation and GOV.UK on 11 November 2026.
1. Check the paperwork you already have
From 1 May 2026 your landlord's name must be on your tenancy agreement or on a separate written document you are given. The landlord's name and address may also be on the gas safety record and on the information you were sent about your deposit. You can also contact your tenancy deposit scheme directly.
2. Ask in writing: the 21-day rule
Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 gives every tenant of a home the right to ask for the landlord's name and address. Send the request to the person who demands the rent or last received it, or to the landlord's agent. They must give you a written statement within 21 days, starting on the day they receive your request. Send it by email or letter, keep a copy and note the date.
A letter you can copy:
[Your name] [Address of the property you rent] [Date] Dear [agent or person you pay rent to], Request for landlord's name and address I am the tenant of the property above. Under section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, please give me in writing the full name and address of my landlord. The Act requires this within 21 days of the day you receive this request. Yours sincerely, [Your name]
If 21 days pass with no answer, the agent or rent collector has committed an offence unless they have a reasonable excuse. The fine is up to level 4 on the standard scale, which is £2,500. Report it to your council's private rented housing team, which can take legal action.
3. Look up the owner at HM Land Registry
Search for the address on GOV.UK's Search for land and property information service and download the title register for £7. It shows who owns the property. HM Land Registry covers England and Wales and holds records for most property sold since 1993.
Two things to know. If the person you rent from is a tenant themselves and is subletting, the owner on the register is not your landlord. And if the name on your tenancy agreement does not match the registered owner and no agent or head lease explains the difference, ask why before you pay anything more. A mismatch can mean an unauthorised sublet or a scam.
4. If your landlord is a company
Some rented homes are owned by a limited company. Once you have its name, section 2 of the 1985 Act lets you make a further written request for the name and address of every director and the company secretary, again with 21 days to reply. You can also search the company for free on Companies House to see its directors, its registered office and whether its accounts are overdue.
See whether a company owns the property
Search the address for a free report on the property: EPC rating, flood zone, crime and sold prices. The Premium report (£4.99) adds whether a UK or overseas company owns it, a Companies House check on that company and any property tribunal cases at the building or postcode. It does not name an individual owner; for that, the £7 title register is the route. England and Wales.
5. Ask the council
Your council's council tax department or private rented housing team may be able to help, and the council is the body that can prosecute an agent who ignores a written request. If the property needs an HMO or selective licence, the council keeps a public register of licences. Our guide is my landlord registered? lists each register and how to search it.
Your landlord must give you an address for notices
Under section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 a landlord must give the tenant an address in England and Wales where notices can be served. Until they do, rent is treated as not being due. This is not free rent: the money becomes due as soon as the address is given, so set it aside and get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice before you withhold anything.
Will the PRS Database show who my landlord is?
Not yet. England's new landlord database opens to landlords region by region from 15 December 2026, but GOV.UK says landlord and property information will not currently be shared publicly, and that it will publish later what the public can see. See the PRS Database registration dates for when your landlord has to be on it.
Scotland and Wales
The 1985 and 1987 Acts above apply in England and Wales. In Scotland, landlords must be on the public Scottish Landlord Register, which you can search. In Wales, landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales, which has a public register check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a right to know who my landlord is?
Yes. In England and Wales, section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 lets a tenant ask in writing for the landlord's name and address. The request goes to whoever demands or last received the rent, or to the landlord's agent, and they must reply in writing within 21 days.
What if my letting agent will not tell me who the landlord is?
Failing to answer a written request within 21 days without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence, with a fine of up to £2,500. Tell your council's private rented housing team, which can take legal action, and use the £7 HM Land Registry title register to find the owner yourself.
How do I find out who owns the house I rent?
Search for the address on GOV.UK's 'Search for land and property information' service and download the title register for £7. It shows who owns the property. It covers England and Wales. If you rent from someone who is a tenant themselves, the owner on the register will not be your landlord.
My landlord is a company. Can I find out who is behind it?
Yes. Once you have the company's name you can make a further written request for the name and address of every director and the company secretary, and the landlord must reply within 21 days. Companies House also lists a company's directors free of charge.
Can I find my landlord on the PRS Database?
Not at present. England's new landlord database opens to landlords region by region from 15 December 2026, but GOV.UK says landlord and property information will not currently be shared publicly.
Does my landlord have to give me an address?
Yes. Under section 48 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 a landlord must give the tenant an address in England and Wales where notices can be served. Until they do, rent is treated as not being due. It becomes due once the address is given, so keep the money aside.
Sources, checked 11 November 2026: Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, sections 1 and 2 · Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, section 48 · GOV.UK, Search for land and property information · GOV.UK, Register your rental property service. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Shelter and Citizens Advice give free advice on your own case.