Form AP1 — Land Registry Application 2026 Guide

AP1 is the administrative skin around every dealing with registered land. Without AP1, a signed TR1 changes nothing in the register. With AP1, the transfer becomes a matter of record. That is not a matter of practice but of statute: under s.27(1) of the Land Registration Act 2002, a disposition that must be completed by registration “does not operate at law until the relevant registration requirements are met”. The forms themselves are prescribed by the Land Registration Rules 2003.

What AP1 registers

• Transfer of whole or part of a registered title (following TR1 or TP1)
• Grant of a legal charge (mortgage)
• Discharge of a charge (following DS1)
• Entry or removal of a restriction (the restriction application itself goes on form RX1, lodged with the AP1)
• Rectification of the register
• Change of name
• Entry of notices — restrictive covenants, rights, options (an agreed notice is applied for on form AN1; a unilateral notice on form UN1)

AP1 comes at the end of the transaction. Much earlier in the same journey, the seller’s replies on Form TA6: the property information form shape what is being transferred and what the buyer can rely on.

The boxes

Section 1 — Title number

Exact from the register.

Section 2 — Property description

As per register.

Section 3 — The applications

Each application described. “Application 1: Registration of transfer (TR1) dated [date] from [A] to [B]. Application 2: Registration of charge (MR) in favour of [lender]. Application 3: Entry of standard form restriction X.”

Section 4 — Fee

Calculated on a scale or charged at a fixed rate, depending on the application. The fees are set by the Land Registration Fee Order 2024 and HM Land Registry publishes the current Registration Services fees (Scale 1 and Scale 2) on GOV.UK — check the current version before sending, because a fee that is wrong in either direction is a common cause of rejection.

Section 5 — Documents lodged

List each one — TR1, charge deed, ID1, ID5, DS1 and so on.

Section 8 — Contact for the requisitions

HMLR will email requisitions (queries on the application). Provide a monitored email address. Unanswered requisitions cause cancellation.

Priority searches — OS1 / OS2

Before submitting AP1, the buyer’s searcher lodges an OS1 (whole title) or OS2 (part). This secures 30 working days of priority — during which the register is protected against competing applications. HM Land Registry puts it precisely in practice guide 12 (official searches): priority “ends at midnight marking the end of the 30th working day after the day on which the official search application was received”. Submit AP1 within that window, quoting the search reference, and the application takes precedence.

Common errors that cause rejection

• Fee wrong — under or over
• Title number mis-typed
• TR1 not correctly executed (no witness, wrong date)
• ID1 missing where identity not otherwise established
• Restriction entries lacking standard wording
• Plan not attached where required (TP1 transfers of part)

Related Court Forms & Guides

• Form N260: Statement of Costs — the costs schedule used at summary assessment.
• Form N244: Application Notice — the form for interim applications.
• Start a Money Claim Online (OCMC) — where most civil money claims begin.
• Particulars of Claim — setting out the basis of your claim.
• Civil Court Forms Index — every civil court form guide in one place.

Can Chris draft AP1 and the full application pack?

Yes. Upload the signed TR1, charge deed if applicable, ID documents, search results. Chris drafts AP1 with priority reference, fee calculation, document schedule, and contact details. Chris drafts the AP1 alone, or the full conveyancing pack.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Form AP1 do?

AP1 is the application that changes the register at HM Land Registry. Without it, a signed TR1 changes nothing; with it, the transfer becomes a matter of record. It is used to register a transfer of whole or part (following TR1 or TP1), the grant or discharge of a charge, the entry or removal of a restriction (the restriction itself is applied for on form RX1), rectification, a change of name, or the entry of notices such as restrictive covenants, rights or options (agreed notice: form AN1; unilateral notice: form UN1).

What information goes on the form?

The key boxes are the title number (exactly as it appears on the register), the property description (as per the register), the applications listed and described in order, the fee, the documents lodged (TR1, charge deed, ID1, ID5, DS1 and so on), and a monitored contact for requisitions. Each application should be described clearly — for example, registration of a transfer, registration of a charge, and entry of a standard-form restriction.

How much is the Land Registry fee?

The fee is calculated on a scale or charged at a fixed rate depending on the application. It is set by the Land Registration Fee Order 2024, and HM Land Registry publishes the current Registration Services fees on GOV.UK — check the current version before sending, as a fee that is wrong (under or over) is a common cause of rejection.

What is priority and why does it matter?

Before submitting AP1, the buyer’s searcher lodges an OS1 (whole title) or OS2 (part), which secures a window of priority during which the register is protected against competing applications. Under HM Land Registry’s practice guide 12, that priority ends at midnight at the end of the 30th working day after the day the search application was received. Submit AP1 within that window, quoting the search reference, and your application takes precedence.

What causes an AP1 to be rejected?

Common errors include the fee being wrong, the title number mis-typed, the TR1 not correctly executed (no witness or wrong date), ID1 missing where identity is not otherwise established, restriction entries lacking the standard wording, and a plan not attached where required for transfers of part. Unanswered requisitions also cause cancellation, so provide a monitored email address.

Can Chris draft AP1 and the full application pack?

Yes. Upload the signed TR1, charge deed if applicable, ID documents and search results, and Chris drafts AP1 with the priority reference, fee calculation, document schedule and contact details. Chris drafts the AP1 alone, or the full conveyancing pack.

Related guides: Form TR1 — Transfer of Whole Registered Title · Form ID1 — Identity Verification · Form RX1 — Restriction on the Register · Form UN1 — Unilateral Notice · Adverse Possession — ADV1 + ST1 · All civil court forms