Lease Plan London: What Property Owners Need to Know

If you are selling, leasing, transferring or preparing a property in London, you may need a clear lease plan to show exactly which part of a property is included in the lease.

A lease plan is different from a standard property floor plan. It focuses on identifying the area covered by a lease and can be an important document when a property or part of a property needs to be clearly defined.

For leasehold flats, commercial units, new developments and parts of larger properties, a properly prepared plan can make the boundaries and extent of the leased area much easier to understand.

What Is a Lease Plan?

A lease plan is a drawing that identifies the property or part of a property included in a lease.

It can show the location of the property, the relevant floor or floors, boundaries, access areas and other details needed to identify the leased space.

The exact requirements depend on the property and the type of transaction.

For leases involving part of a registered property, HM Land Registry guidance on preparing plans for registration applications explains how plans should clearly identify the land being leased.

Why Is a Lease Plan Important?

A clear lease plan can reduce confusion about what a tenant is actually leasing.

This becomes especially important when a lease covers only part of a larger building.

For example, a lease could cover:

• A single flat within an apartment building

• A commercial unit within a larger building

• A particular floor

• A garage or parking space

• A storage area

• Part of a development

• A combination of internal and external areas

A good plan helps show the physical extent of the leased property.

It can also make the legal documentation easier for the parties involved to understand.

Lease Plan vs Floor Plan: What Is the Difference?

The terms can sometimes be confused, but a lease plan and a normal floor plan have different purposes.

A floor plan normally focuses on the layout of a property. It may show rooms, doors, windows, measurements and the arrangement of the space.

A lease plan focuses more specifically on identifying the area that forms part of the lease.

A floor plan can therefore be useful as part of property marketing, while a lease plan may be prepared for a legal or registration purpose.

The two documents can look similar, but their purpose and required level of detail can be different.

What Should a Lease Plan Show?

The exact requirements depend on the property and transaction.

However, a lease plan may need to make several important details clear.

1. The Property Location

The plan should help identify where the property is located.

This can include nearby roads, buildings or other recognisable features.

A location plan can be particularly useful where the leased area forms part of a larger site.

2. The Leased Area

The plan should clearly identify the exact area covered by the lease.

For example, a flat within a larger residential building should be distinguishable from the other flats.

Clear edging or suitable colouring can help identify the relevant area.

3. Floor Level

For properties within multi-storey buildings, the relevant floor level should be clear.

This is particularly important for leasehold flats and commercial units located above or below other parts of a building.

4. Scale

The plan should use an appropriate stated scale where required.

HM Land Registry’s official guidance provides guidance on suitable scales for different types of plans.

5. North Point

A north point helps establish the orientation of the property.

This can make it easier to understand how the property relates to surrounding buildings, roads and land.

6. Surrounding Features

A plan should contain enough surrounding information to help identify the property.

Roads, junctions and other recognisable features can help establish the location of the leased area.

When Might You Need a Lease Plan?

A lease plan may be needed in a number of property situations.

Common examples include:

• Granting a new lease

• Transferring part of a registered property

• Leasing part of a larger development

• Creating a lease for a new flat

• Commercial property leases

• Certain leasehold transactions

• Registering a lease with HM Land Registry

The requirements can vary depending on the transaction.

If you are unsure, speak to your solicitor or conveyancer before preparing the final plan.

What Makes a Good Lease Plan?

A good lease plan should be clear, accurate and easy to interpret.

It should not leave the reader guessing where the leased property starts or ends.

Some useful features include:

• Clear property boundaries

• Correct floor identification

• A suitable scale

• A north point

• Recognisable surrounding features

• Clear labels

• Consistent measurements

• Accurate representation of the building

• Suitable colouring or edging where required

The plan should also match the property and the information contained in the lease.

Common Lease Plan Mistakes

Small errors can create unnecessary problems during a property transaction.

Unclear Boundaries

If the boundary of the leased area is difficult to identify, the plan may not clearly define what is included.

Missing Floor Information

A multi-storey building can contain several similar units. Failing to identify the correct floor can create confusion.

Incorrect Scale

A plan that does not use an appropriate scale may be unsuitable for the intended purpose.

Too Little Location Information

A plan showing only the inside of a property may not provide enough information to identify the property in relation to the wider site.

Poorly Marked Areas

If the leased area is not clearly distinguished from surrounding areas, the plan can become difficult to interpret.

Differences Between the Plan and Lease

The plan and written lease should describe the same property.

Any inconsistency should be addressed before the documents are submitted or signed.

Do You Need a Professional Lease Plan?

It depends on the transaction and the requirements of the parties involved.

If the plan will be used as part of a formal lease or Land Registry application, accuracy is particularly important.

A professional property plan can help provide a clearer representation of the building and leased area.

However, the person preparing the plan should understand the purpose of the document and the relevant requirements.

If your solicitor or conveyancer has provided specific instructions, give those instructions to the person preparing the plan before work begins.

Lease Plans for Flats in London

Lease plans are particularly relevant to leasehold flats.

A London apartment building may contain many units that have similar layouts.

The lease plan can help identify the specific flat and the part of the building covered by the lease.

It may also need to distinguish the property from shared areas such as:

• Communal hallways

• Staircases

• Lifts

• Entrances

• Shared gardens

• Communal facilities

• Other flats

The exact treatment of these areas depends on the lease and the property arrangement.

Lease Plans for Commercial Property

Lease plans are also useful for commercial premises.

A commercial building may contain several offices, shops or units.

A clear plan can help identify the specific space being leased.

For example, a commercial lease could cover a shop unit on the ground floor while other parts of the building remain under separate ownership or occupation.

A suitable plan can make the extent of the premises easier to understand.

Lease Plan and Property Marketing

A lease plan is not the same as a marketing floor plan, but both types of property documentation can be useful during a transaction.

If you are preparing a property for sale or rent, you may also need an EPC, professional photography and a floor plan.

If you are preparing a property for sale, our guide to EPC for selling a property in London explains the EPC requirements and other preparation steps.

You can also read our recent guide on how to improve your EPC rating before arranging a new assessment.

For landlords planning ahead, our guide to the EPC C rating 2030 deadline explains the upcoming energy-efficiency requirements.

Preparing a Property for Marketing

A lease plan is only one part of preparing a property.

Depending on your situation, you may also need:

• An Energy Performance Certificate

• Property photography

• A floor plan

• Property measurements

• Property descriptions

• Legal documents

• Marketing information

If you need several property services, arranging them together can make the preparation process easier.

Our estate agent property marketing package in London explains how EPCs, photography and floor plans can be combined for property marketing.

How to Prepare for a Lease Plan

Before arranging a lease plan, collect the information available for the property.

This may include:

• Property address

• Existing floor plans

• Previous lease plans

• Title information

• Building plans

• Measurements

• Information about shared areas

• Details of parking or storage areas

• Instructions from your solicitor or conveyancer

Providing accurate information at the start can make the planning process easier.

If you already have an old plan, do not assume that it still represents the property accurately.

Changes to the building, extensions, alterations or subdivision can affect the plan.

Check the Requirements Before Finalising the Plan

Lease plan requirements can vary depending on the transaction.

HM Land Registry’s official guidance explains the requirements for plans used with registration applications.

The guidance covers matters such as scale, orientation, surrounding features and clearly identifying the land involved.

For this reason, it is sensible to check the requirements before preparing the final version.

If your solicitor or conveyancer has provided a specification, follow that specification.

How a Lease Plan Can Help Property Owners

A clear lease plan in London can make property documentation easier to understand.

It can help show:

• Which areas are included in a lease

• Where the property is located

• Which parts are shared

• Where boundaries sit

• Which floor or unit is involved

• How the leased area relates to the surrounding property

Clear documentation can be particularly useful when several properties or units exist within the same building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a lease plan?

A lease plan is a drawing that identifies the property or area included in a lease. It can show boundaries, floor levels, location and other information needed to identify the leased space.

Is a lease plan the same as a floor plan?

No. A floor plan usually focuses on the layout of a property, while a lease plan focuses on identifying the area included within a lease.

Do all leasehold properties need a lease plan?

Not necessarily. The requirement depends on the property, lease and transaction. Your solicitor or conveyancer can confirm what is required.

Does a lease plan need a scale?

Where HM Land Registry requirements apply, the plan should be drawn accurately to a stated scale. The appropriate scale depends on the circumstances.

Should a lease plan show a north point?

A north point can help establish the orientation of the property and is part of HM Land Registry’s general plan guidance.

Can an existing floor plan be used as a lease plan?

Possibly, but it should meet the requirements of the intended transaction. A normal marketing floor plan may not contain all the information required for a lease or Land Registry application.

Who should prepare a lease plan?

The appropriate person depends on the property and transaction. If the plan will be used for legal or registration purposes, follow the requirements provided by your solicitor, conveyancer or other relevant professional.

Where can I find official lease plan guidance?

You can find official information in the HM Land Registry guidance for preparing plans for registration applications.

Final Thoughts

A clear lease plan in London can make it much easier to identify exactly what forms part of a lease.

The plan should clearly show the relevant property, boundaries and location while meeting any requirements that apply to the transaction.

If you are preparing a new lease, transferring part of a property or dealing with a leasehold transaction, check the requirements early.

Do not rely on an old floor plan without checking whether it accurately represents the property today.

For formal legal or registration matters, always confirm the required specification with your solicitor or conveyancer.

If you are also preparing your property for sale or rent, EPC Rate London can help with property preparation services, including EPCs, floor plans and property photography.

You can check our EPC pricing or use our property services booking page to enquire about available services.

For the latest legal requirements, always check the relevant GOV.UK guidance.