Form AP1 UK: How to Complete & Submit (2025 Guide)

What this document is

Form AP1 is the standard application form used to apply to HM Land Registry for changes to be made to a registered title. It sits at the end of the conveyancing process: once a sale, transfer, mortgage, or other dealing has completed, AP1 is how that change gets formally recorded on the register.

The form itself is relatively short, but it acts as a cover sheet for the supporting documents that prove what has happened. These typically include the signed transfer deed (TR1 for a whole transfer, TP1 for part), any mortgage deed, and evidence that Stamp Duty Land Tax has been dealt with where applicable.

AP1 asks for details about the title number, the nature of the application, the applicant, the fee being paid, and any priority search protection. It is the vehicle that delivers all of this to the Land Registry in one package.

Getting the detail right on AP1, particularly the priority period and the fee, is what keeps an application moving rather than getting bounced back for correction.

How to use this document

1. Gather the supporting documents first. Before filling in AP1, make sure you have the completed transfer deed (usually TR1), any mortgage documentation, SDLT5 certificate from HMRC if Stamp Duty was payable, and identity verification documents where required. AP1 is the cover sheet, so the substance sits in what you attach alongside it.
2. Enter the title number and property details correctly. The title number is the unique reference HM Land Registry uses for the property, and it must match exactly what appears on the existing register. Double-check this against a recent official copy of the register. An error here is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected or delayed at the intake stage.
3. Select the correct application type and fee. AP1 asks you to list the applications being made in priority order, for example a transfer followed by a charge. Each type of application attracts its own fee, which depends on the value involved and whether you are applying through the portal or by post. Check the current Land Registry fee scale on gov.uk before submitting, as fees change.
4. Reference any priority search. If a priority search (OS1 or OS2) has been carried out, quote the search reference on the form. This protects your application against any other entries made against the title during the priority period, which is typically 30 working days. Missing this step can cause real problems if a competing application arrives.
5. Sign, submit, and keep copies. The form must be signed by the applicant or their conveyancer. Submit it with the supporting documents and correct fee to HM Land Registry, either through the Business Gateway, the portal, or by post. Keep full copies of everything sent. Expect an acknowledgment and, later, an updated title register confirming the change.