Maria has been working for her Indian employer for the last 3 years. Her employer requested her to accompany her for a summer holiday to the UK so that she can look after the children. She is currently in the UK but she has some concerns about her employment rights. What are her employment rights whilst in the UK?

When you work in the UK your employer must:

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overview

You can apply for a visa to visit the UK with your employer if you:

live outside the UK

are a domestic worker in a private household

have worked for your employer for at least one year

meet the other eligibility requirements

Domestic workers include:

cleaners

chauffeurs

cooks

those providing personal care for the employer and their family

nannies

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

From 1 January 2021, you’ll need to apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £516 for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

You may be able to extend a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa if you applied on or before 5 April 2012.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

travel abroad and return to the UK to complete your stay

change employers to another job as a domestic worker in a private household - only if you do not stay longer than the 6 months

You cannot:

work except as a domestic worker in a private household

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

get public funds

Eligibility

You must prove that you:

are 19 or older

have worked for your employer for at least 1 year

work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly

plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner or children

intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in

plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months

are able to support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer

Your employer must be either a:

British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months

foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months

Your employer must also pay you at least the national minimum wage.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

proof you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

a letter from your employer confirming your job title, how long you’ve worked for them and that you’re a permanent employee

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You must also provide 1 of the following documents covering the same period of employment:

pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary

confirmation of tax paid

confirmation of health insurance paid

contract of employment

work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer

visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for this visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services.

Domestic workers who applied before 5 April 2012

There are different rules if you applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012.

You can:

extend your stay in the UK every 12 months

apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years

bring your partner and children under 18

change employer while your visa is valid

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for 12 months at a time.

If you’ve worked in the UK as a domestic worker for 5 years you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You should apply before your current permission to stay expires.

Eligibility

To extend your visa you must:

be a domestic worker in a private household

have applied for your domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012

have continued to live in the UK

apply while you’re still in the UK

To settle in the UK as a domestic worker you must:

have been living here legally for at least 5 years

currently have permission to stay here as a domestic worker

have been in the UK as a full-time domestic worker continuously throughout the 5 years (you cannot have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 consecutive months)

have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds throughout the 5 years

have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK

Documents you’ll need

To extend your visa you must provide both of the following:

a letter from your employer confirming that they want to continue to employ you

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

To settle in the UK you must provide:

evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and life in the UK criteria

If you’ve had any absences because of serious illness, births or deaths in your family, or had to leave the UK, you also need to write a letter detailing these. You should also include any related supporting documents with your letter, for example medical certificates, birth/death certificates, information about why you had to leave the UK.

How to extend your visa

You must apply online to extend your visa.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application.

If you have any dependant children aged over 18 they will need to apply separately.

How to apply to settle

You must apply online to settle.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application. Your partner must be able to demonstrate their knowledge of English and life in the UK.

Fees

For each person applying it costs:

£1,033 to apply to extend your visa

£2,389 to apply to settle

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority service.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Knowledge of English

If you want to settle in the UK, you’ll need to prove that you can satisfy the English language requirement.

You can only settle as a domestic worker in a private household if you applied for entry on or before 5 April 2012.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Your employment rights

When you work in the UK your employer must:

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

not force you to work excessive hours

give you agreed holiday pay

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

You should already have agreed your employment conditions with your employer and have a copy of these in writing. Your employer cannot change your employment conditions unless you agree.

If your employer does not meet these requirements, you can take legal action through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts.

Get advice and support

You can get free and confidential advice from the Acas helpline.

You can also contact the charity Kalayaan for free, confidential and independent advice as a domestic worker in the UK.

If you want to return home

Contact your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK if you want to return home.

You can also get confidential advice from a registered immigration adviser. Use the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) Adviser Finder to find a registered adviser near you.

If you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

Modern slavery and human trafficking involve being forced to do something you do not want to do, usually by being hurt or threatened.

You may be forced to work for free or less than the minimum wage, get married or move to a country against your will.

You can apply to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, if both of the following apply:

you entered the UK on a Overseas Domestic Worker visa, on a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa, or as a private servant of a diplomat (known as a T5 International Agreement visa)

you have a ‘conclusive grounds’ letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) confirming that you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

How to get a conclusive grounds letter

If you think you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking you need to contact the police or another first responder organisation. They can help refer your case to the SCA.

Read the ‘First responder organisations’ section of the guidance on referrals to find out which organisations can refer your case.

The SCA will decide if you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking. They will send you a conclusive grounds letter confirming their decision.

Apply

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must apply online to stay in the UK.

It’s free to apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Applying for a different visa

If you apply for a different type of visa within 28 days of getting confirmation but are refused, you can still apply as a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal.

Working in the UK

You’ll be able to work as a domestic worker for up to 2 years.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply. You can change job while you’re in the UK.

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overview

You can apply for a visa to visit the UK with your employer if you:

live outside the UK

are a domestic worker in a private household

have worked for your employer for at least one year

meet the other eligibility requirements

Domestic workers include:

cleaners

chauffeurs

cooks

those providing personal care for the employer and their family

nannies

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

From 1 January 2021, you’ll need to apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £516 for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

You may be able to extend a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa if you applied on or before 5 April 2012.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

travel abroad and return to the UK to complete your stay

change employers to another job as a domestic worker in a private household - only if you do not stay longer than the 6 months

You cannot:

work except as a domestic worker in a private household

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

get public funds

Eligibility

You must prove that you:

are 19 or older

have worked for your employer for at least 1 year

work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly

plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner or children

intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in

plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months

are able to support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer

Your employer must be either a:

British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months

foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months

Your employer must also pay you at least the national minimum wage.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

proof you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

a letter from your employer confirming your job title, how long you’ve worked for them and that you’re a permanent employee

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You must also provide 1 of the following documents covering the same period of employment:

pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary

confirmation of tax paid

confirmation of health insurance paid

contract of employment

work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer

visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for this visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Domestic workers who applied before 5 April 2012

There are different rules if you applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012.

You can:

extend your stay in the UK every 12 months

apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years

bring your partner and children under 18

change employer while your visa is valid

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for 12 months at a time.

If you’ve worked in the UK as a domestic worker for 5 years you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You should apply before your current permission to stay expires.

Eligibility

To extend your visa you must:

be a domestic worker in a private household

have applied for your domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012

have continued to live in the UK

apply while you’re still in the UK

To settle in the UK as a domestic worker you must:

have been living here legally for at least 5 years

currently have permission to stay here as a domestic worker

have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds throughout the 5 years

have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK

Documents you’ll need

To extend your visa you must provide both of the following:

a letter from your employer confirming that they want to continue to employ you

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

To settle in the UK you must provide:

evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and life in the UK criteria

How to extend your visa

You must apply online to extend your visa.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application.

If you have any dependant children aged over 18 they will need to apply separately.

How to apply to settle

You must apply online to settle.

Fees

For each person applying it costs:

£1,033 to apply to extend your visa

£2,389 to apply to settle

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority service.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Knowledge of English

If you want to settle in the UK, you’ll need to prove that you can satisfy the English language requirement.

You can only settle as a domestic worker in a private household if you applied for entry on or before 5 April 2012.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Your employment rights

When you work in the UK your employer must:

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

not force you to work excessive hours

give you agreed holiday pay

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

If your employer does not meet these requirements, you can take legal action through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts.

Get advice and support

You can get free and confidential advice from the Acas helpline.

You can also contact the charity Kalayaan for free, confidential and independent advice as a domestic worker in the UK.

If you want to return home

Contact your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK if you want to return home.

If you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

Modern slavery and human trafficking involve being forced to do something you do not want to do, usually by being hurt or threatened.

You may be forced to work for free or less than the minimum wage, get married or move to a country against your will.

You can apply to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, if both of the following apply:

you have a ‘conclusive grounds’ letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) confirming that you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

How to get a conclusive grounds letter

Read the ‘First responder organisations’ section of the guidance on referrals to find out which organisations can refer your case.

Apply

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must apply online to stay in the UK.

It’s free to apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Applying for a different visa

You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal.

Working in the UK

You’ll be able to work as a domestic worker for up to 2 years.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply. You can change job while you’re in the UK.

not force you to work excessive hours

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overview

You can apply for a visa to visit the UK with your employer if you:

live outside the UK

are a domestic worker in a private household

have worked for your employer for at least one year

meet the other eligibility requirements

Domestic workers include:

cleaners

chauffeurs

cooks

those providing personal care for the employer and their family

nannies

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

From 1 January 2021, you’ll need to apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £516 for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

You may be able to extend a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa if you applied on or before 5 April 2012.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

travel abroad and return to the UK to complete your stay

change employers to another job as a domestic worker in a private household - only if you do not stay longer than the 6 months

You cannot:

work except as a domestic worker in a private household

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

get public funds

Eligibility

You must prove that you:

are 19 or older

have worked for your employer for at least 1 year

work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly

plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner or children

intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in

plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months

are able to support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer

Your employer must be either a:

British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months

foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months

Your employer must also pay you at least the national minimum wage.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

proof you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

a letter from your employer confirming your job title, how long you’ve worked for them and that you’re a permanent employee

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You must also provide 1 of the following documents covering the same period of employment:

pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary

confirmation of tax paid

confirmation of health insurance paid

contract of employment

work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer

visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for this visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Domestic workers who applied before 5 April 2012

There are different rules if you applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012.

You can:

extend your stay in the UK every 12 months

apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years

bring your partner and children under 18

change employer while your visa is valid

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for 12 months at a time.

If you’ve worked in the UK as a domestic worker for 5 years you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You should apply before your current permission to stay expires.

Eligibility

To extend your visa you must:

be a domestic worker in a private household

have applied for your domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012

have continued to live in the UK

apply while you’re still in the UK

To settle in the UK as a domestic worker you must:

have been living here legally for at least 5 years

currently have permission to stay here as a domestic worker

have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds throughout the 5 years

have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK

Documents you’ll need

To extend your visa you must provide both of the following:

a letter from your employer confirming that they want to continue to employ you

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

To settle in the UK you must provide:

evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and life in the UK criteria

How to extend your visa

You must apply online to extend your visa.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application.

If you have any dependant children aged over 18 they will need to apply separately.

How to apply to settle

You must apply online to settle.

Fees

For each person applying it costs:

£1,033 to apply to extend your visa

£2,389 to apply to settle

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority service.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Knowledge of English

If you want to settle in the UK, you’ll need to prove that you can satisfy the English language requirement.

You can only settle as a domestic worker in a private household if you applied for entry on or before 5 April 2012.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Your employment rights

When you work in the UK your employer must:

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

not force you to work excessive hours

give you agreed holiday pay

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

If your employer does not meet these requirements, you can take legal action through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts.

Get advice and support

You can get free and confidential advice from the Acas helpline.

You can also contact the charity Kalayaan for free, confidential and independent advice as a domestic worker in the UK.

If you want to return home

Contact your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK if you want to return home.

If you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

Modern slavery and human trafficking involve being forced to do something you do not want to do, usually by being hurt or threatened.

You may be forced to work for free or less than the minimum wage, get married or move to a country against your will.

You can apply to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, if both of the following apply:

you have a ‘conclusive grounds’ letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) confirming that you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

How to get a conclusive grounds letter

Read the ‘First responder organisations’ section of the guidance on referrals to find out which organisations can refer your case.

Apply

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must apply online to stay in the UK.

It’s free to apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Applying for a different visa

You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal.

Working in the UK

You’ll be able to work as a domestic worker for up to 2 years.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply. You can change job while you’re in the UK.

give you agreed holiday pay

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overview

You can apply for a visa to visit the UK with your employer if you:

live outside the UK

are a domestic worker in a private household

have worked for your employer for at least one year

meet the other eligibility requirements

Domestic workers include:

cleaners

chauffeurs

cooks

those providing personal care for the employer and their family

nannies

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

From 1 January 2021, you’ll need to apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £516 for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

You may be able to extend a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa if you applied on or before 5 April 2012.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

travel abroad and return to the UK to complete your stay

change employers to another job as a domestic worker in a private household - only if you do not stay longer than the 6 months

You cannot:

work except as a domestic worker in a private household

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

get public funds

Eligibility

You must prove that you:

are 19 or older

have worked for your employer for at least 1 year

work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly

plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner or children

intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in

plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months

are able to support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer

Your employer must be either a:

British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months

foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months

Your employer must also pay you at least the national minimum wage.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

proof you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

a letter from your employer confirming your job title, how long you’ve worked for them and that you’re a permanent employee

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You must also provide 1 of the following documents covering the same period of employment:

pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary

confirmation of tax paid

confirmation of health insurance paid

contract of employment

work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer

visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for this visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Domestic workers who applied before 5 April 2012

There are different rules if you applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012.

You can:

extend your stay in the UK every 12 months

apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years

bring your partner and children under 18

change employer while your visa is valid

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for 12 months at a time.

If you’ve worked in the UK as a domestic worker for 5 years you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You should apply before your current permission to stay expires.

Eligibility

To extend your visa you must:

be a domestic worker in a private household

have applied for your domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012

have continued to live in the UK

apply while you’re still in the UK

To settle in the UK as a domestic worker you must:

have been living here legally for at least 5 years

currently have permission to stay here as a domestic worker

have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds throughout the 5 years

have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK

Documents you’ll need

To extend your visa you must provide both of the following:

a letter from your employer confirming that they want to continue to employ you

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

To settle in the UK you must provide:

evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and life in the UK criteria

How to extend your visa

You must apply online to extend your visa.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application.

If you have any dependant children aged over 18 they will need to apply separately.

How to apply to settle

You must apply online to settle.

Fees

For each person applying it costs:

£1,033 to apply to extend your visa

£2,389 to apply to settle

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority service.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Knowledge of English

If you want to settle in the UK, you’ll need to prove that you can satisfy the English language requirement.

You can only settle as a domestic worker in a private household if you applied for entry on or before 5 April 2012.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Your employment rights

When you work in the UK your employer must:

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

not force you to work excessive hours

give you agreed holiday pay

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

If your employer does not meet these requirements, you can take legal action through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts.

Get advice and support

You can get free and confidential advice from the Acas helpline.

You can also contact the charity Kalayaan for free, confidential and independent advice as a domestic worker in the UK.

If you want to return home

Contact your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK if you want to return home.

If you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

Modern slavery and human trafficking involve being forced to do something you do not want to do, usually by being hurt or threatened.

You may be forced to work for free or less than the minimum wage, get married or move to a country against your will.

You can apply to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, if both of the following apply:

you have a ‘conclusive grounds’ letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) confirming that you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

How to get a conclusive grounds letter

Read the ‘First responder organisations’ section of the guidance on referrals to find out which organisations can refer your case.

Apply

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must apply online to stay in the UK.

It’s free to apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Applying for a different visa

You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal.

Working in the UK

You’ll be able to work as a domestic worker for up to 2 years.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply. You can change job while you’re in the UK.

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overview

You can apply for a visa to visit the UK with your employer if you:

live outside the UK

are a domestic worker in a private household

have worked for your employer for at least one year

meet the other eligibility requirements

Domestic workers include:

cleaners

chauffeurs

cooks

those providing personal care for the employer and their family

nannies

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you started living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

From 1 January 2021, you’ll need to apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

It costs £516 for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

You may be able to extend a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa if you applied on or before 5 April 2012.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

travel abroad and return to the UK to complete your stay

change employers to another job as a domestic worker in a private household - only if you do not stay longer than the 6 months

You cannot:

work except as a domestic worker in a private household

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

get public funds

Eligibility

You must prove that you:

are 19 or older

have worked for your employer for at least 1 year

work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly

plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner or children

intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in

plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months

are able to support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer

Your employer must be either a:

British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months

foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months

Your employer must also pay you at least the national minimum wage.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

proof you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

a letter from your employer confirming your job title, how long you’ve worked for them and that you’re a permanent employee

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

You must also provide 1 of the following documents covering the same period of employment:

pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary

confirmation of tax paid

confirmation of health insurance paid

contract of employment

work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer

visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for this visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Domestic workers who applied before 5 April 2012

There are different rules if you applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012.

You can:

extend your stay in the UK every 12 months

apply to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years

bring your partner and children under 18

change employer while your visa is valid

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your visa for 12 months at a time.

If you’ve worked in the UK as a domestic worker for 5 years you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You should apply before your current permission to stay expires.

Eligibility

To extend your visa you must:

be a domestic worker in a private household

have applied for your domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012

have continued to live in the UK

apply while you’re still in the UK

To settle in the UK as a domestic worker you must:

have been living here legally for at least 5 years

currently have permission to stay here as a domestic worker

have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds throughout the 5 years

have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK

Documents you’ll need

To extend your visa you must provide both of the following:

a letter from your employer confirming that they want to continue to employ you

a completed ‘Appendix domestic worker statement’ signed by both you and your employer

To settle in the UK you must provide:

evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and life in the UK criteria

How to extend your visa

You must apply online to extend your visa.

You can include your dependants (partner and children aged under 18) on your application.

If you have any dependant children aged over 18 they will need to apply separately.

How to apply to settle

You must apply online to settle.

Fees

For each person applying it costs:

£1,033 to apply to extend your visa

£2,389 to apply to settle

You’ll also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £800 to use the super priority service.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Knowledge of English

If you want to settle in the UK, you’ll need to prove that you can satisfy the English language requirement.

You can only settle as a domestic worker in a private household if you applied for entry on or before 5 April 2012.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Your employment rights

When you work in the UK your employer must:

pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage

not force you to work excessive hours

give you agreed holiday pay

give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends

If your employer does not meet these requirements, you can take legal action through an employment or industrial tribunal or the civil courts.

Get advice and support

You can get free and confidential advice from the Acas helpline.

You can also contact the charity Kalayaan for free, confidential and independent advice as a domestic worker in the UK.

If you want to return home

Contact your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK if you want to return home.

If you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

Modern slavery and human trafficking involve being forced to do something you do not want to do, usually by being hurt or threatened.

You may be forced to work for free or less than the minimum wage, get married or move to a country against your will.

You can apply to stay in the UK for up to 2 years, if both of the following apply:

you have a ‘conclusive grounds’ letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) confirming that you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking

How to get a conclusive grounds letter

Read the ‘First responder organisations’ section of the guidance on referrals to find out which organisations can refer your case.

The SCA will decide if you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking. They will send you a conclusive grounds letter confirming their decision.

Apply

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation you’re a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

You must apply online to stay in the UK.

It’s free to apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Applying for a different visa

You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal.

Working in the UK

You’ll be able to work as a domestic worker for up to 2 years.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply. You can change job while you’re in the UK.


My mother has sold her house property . It was not her main home and had let part of it. She wishes to report to the HMRC about the sell and the gains for taxes purposes. How much time does she have to report?

You must report and pay any Capital Gains Tax on most sales of UK property within 30 days.

Tax when you sell property

What you pay it on

You may have to pay Capital Gains Tax if you make a profit (‘gain’) when you sell (or ‘dispose of’) property that’s not your home, for example:

buy-to-let properties

business premises

land

inherited property

There are different rules if you:

sell your home

live abroad

are a company registered abroad

You’ll need to work out your gain to find out whether you need to pay tax.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

When you do not pay

You do not usually need to pay tax on gifts to your husband, wife, civil partner or a charity.

You may get tax relief if the property is a business asset.

If the property was occupied by a dependent relative you may not have to pay. Find out more in the guidance on Private Residence Relief.

If you need to pay

Work out your gain

Your gain is usually the difference between what you paid for your property and the amount you got when you sold (or ‘disposed of’) it.

If your combined capital gains are over your allowance for the year you’ll have to report and pay Capital Gains Tax.

Market value

In some situations you should use the market value of the property when working out your gain. Do this if:

it was a gift (there are different rules if it was to your spouse, civil partner or a charity)

you sold it for less than it was worth to help the buyer

you inherited it (and do not know the Inheritance Tax value)

you owned it before April 1982

Selling in special circumstances

There are special rules for calculating your gain if:

you live abroad

you sell a lease or part of your land

your property is compulsorily purchased

Jointly owned property

If you own property jointly with other people, work out the gain for the share that you own.

Deduct costs

You can deduct costs of buying, selling or improving your property from your gain. These include:

estate agents’ and solicitors’ fees

costs of improvement works, for example for an extension (normal maintenance costs, such as decorating, do not count)

Reliefs

You may get tax relief if the property was:

your home

a business asset

occupied by a dependent relative - find out more in the guidance on Private Residence Relief

Work out if you need to pay

Once you know what your gain on the property is, you can calculate if you need to report and pay Capital Gains Tax.

You cannot use the calculator if you:

sold land

sold business premises

sold other chargeable assets in the tax year, for example shares

reduced your share of a property that you still jointly own

claim any reliefs other than Private Residence Relief or Letting Relief

are a company, agent, trustee or personal representative

Calculate Capital Gains Tax on property

If you have Capital Gains Tax to pay

Reporting a loss

The rules are different if you need to report a loss.

Businesses

You may get tax relief if you sell property that you use for business. This may reduce or delay the amount of Capital Gains Tax you pay.

If the purpose of your business is to buy and sell property (you’re a property developer, for example) you do not pay Capital Gains Tax when you sell a property. Instead, you pay:

Income Tax - if you’re a sole trader or partner

Corporation Tax - if you’re a limited company

There are special rules for limited companies that dispose of a single residential property worth more than £2 million.

Selling overseas property

You pay Capital Gains Tax when you ‘dispose of’ overseas property if you’re resident in the UK.

There are special rules if you’re resident in the UK but your permanent home (‘domicile’) is abroad.

You may also have to pay tax in the country you made the gain. If you’re taxed twice, you may be able to claim relief.

If you’re non-resident

Non-residents may have to pay UK tax on overseas property if they return to the UK within 5 years of leaving.


we recently lost our jobs and as a result our living standards have dropped. our children were being mercilessly teased by their schoolmates because of our situation so we decided to withdraw them from school and home school them. we have now received a fine from the local council because of their absenteeism. How much is the fine from local council for the parent?

You must make sure your child gets a full-time education that meets their needs (for example if they have special educational needs). You can send your child to school or educate them yourself.

School attendance and absence

Overview

Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.

You’ll be contacted by either:

the school - if your child is enrolled in school and does not turn up (even if they’re only absent for a day)

the council’s education welfare officer - if they think your child is not getting a suitable education at home

You can be prosecuted if you do not give your child an education. You’ll normally get warnings and offers of help from the local council first.

You can get education and attendance information from your council.

When your child can miss school

You can only allow your child to miss school if either:

they’re too ill to go in

you’ve got advance permission from the school

There’s extra support available if your child cannot go to school for long periods because of a health problem.

Holidays in term time

You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.

You can only do this if:

you make an application to the head teacher in advance (as a parent the child normally lives with)

there are exceptional circumstances

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

You can be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school’s permission.

School trips

Your child’s school can ask you for a voluntary contribution to the cost of activities like school trips. They cannot stop your child from attending if you do not pay, but they should cancel the activity if there is not enough money to cover the cost of it.

Help with getting your child to go to school

If you’re having trouble getting your child to go to school, the school and local council can help.

The school will discuss attendance problems with you and should agree a plan with you to improve your child’s attendance.

A lot of local councils have teams that help parents improve their child’s attendance at school. The council will tell you if they’re able to help. Forms of help could include:

support to reduce the burden on children where families are in difficulty (for example if a child is spending a lot of time caring for someone)

working with families and schools to overcome bullying and other serious problems

a parenting contract

Parenting contract

This is a voluntary written agreement between you and either the local council or the school’s governing body. Between you, you agree to find ways to improve your child’s attendance.

If you refuse to make a contract or you do not stick to it, it can be used as evidence if the local council decides to prosecute you.

Legal action to enforce school attendance

Local councils and schools can use various legal powers if your child is missing school without a good reason. They can give you:

a Parenting Order

an Education Supervision Order

a School Attendance Order

a fine (sometimes known as a ‘penalty notice’)

You can be given one or more of these but the council does not have to do this before prosecuting you.

Parenting Order

This means you have to go to parenting classes. You’ll also have to do what the court says to improve your child’s school attendance.

Education Supervision Order

If the council thinks you need support getting your child to go to school but you’re not co-operating, they can apply to a court for an Education Supervision Order.

A supervisor will be appointed to help you get your child into education. The local council can do this instead of prosecuting you, or as well.

School Attendance Order

You’ll get a School Attendance Order if the local council thinks your child is not getting an education.

You have 15 days to provide evidence that you’ve registered your child with the school listed in the order or that you’re giving them home education. If you do not, you could be prosecuted or given a fine.

Fine

Your local council can give each parent a fine of £60, which rises to £120 each if you do not pay within 21 days. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.

Check your local council’s rules on when you can be fined.

Prosecution

You could get a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court also gives you a Parenting Order.

School attendance and absence

Overview

You’ll be contacted by either:

When your child can miss school

they’re too ill to go in

Holidays in term time

You can only do this if:

there are exceptional circumstances

School trips

Help with getting your child to go to school

a parenting contract

Parenting contract

Legal action to enforce school attendance

a Parenting Order

an Education Supervision Order

a School Attendance Order

Parenting Order

Education Supervision Order

School Attendance Order

Fine

Prosecution


My neighbour and I share a hedge that runs between our two properties. I think it would be wise, for the avoidance of doubt, to have an agreement in place regarding the hedge. What details are required in a boundary agreement?

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You can get an idea of where the boundaries for your property are by looking at its title plan. Most title plans don’t show exact boundaries - you usually don’t need to have the exact boundaries recorded anywhere.

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

This agreement is made on 15th July 2017 between John Smith of 10 Acacia Avenue, title to which is registered under title number XX12345, and Mary Brown of 12 Acacia Avenue, title to which is registered under title number XX67891.

The parties agree that the legal boundary between the land within their respective registered titles, and running from the point marked ‘A’ to the point marked ‘B’ on the plan attached, is as shown by the red line drawn between those points.

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

HM Land Registry will update the register for your property and send a copy of the updated register back to you. They’ll do the same for your neighbour.

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can apply to have the exact boundary between your property and your neighbour’s recorded. This is known as applying for a ‘determined boundary’.

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Your application may be referred to a tribunal if your neighbour doesn’t agree with it. Get legal advice before making an application.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your application is successful, HM Land Registry (HMLR) will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll also send your neighbour a copy of their updated title plan and register.

If your neighbour objects to your application

HMLR will decide whether the objection is valid. If it is, they’ll give you and your neighbour the chance to come to an agreement.

If you can’t, they’ll pass your application to a tribunal. You may need to pay for legal advice and advice from a surveyor if this happens.

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

Your boundary agreement must include:

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

your name and address

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

your neighbour’s name and address

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

the date the agreement begins

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.

the boundary you’ve agreed

Your property boundaries

Overview

If you live in England or Wales, there’s usually no record of:

the exact boundary between two properties

who owns the hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to get the title plan corrected if you think there’s a mistake on it.

Record the boundary more precisely

You can do this by:

making a boundary agreement with your neighbour

applying for a determined boundary

Make a boundary agreement with your neighbour

You can usually avoid having to create a boundary agreement by having an informal discussion with your neighbour.

Get help in solving disagreements

Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Helpline Scheme to get advice on solving disagreements over boundaries.

What a boundary agreement can do

You and your neighbour can create a ‘boundary agreement’ to record:

the boundary between 2 properties

who’s responsible for maintaining a hedge, wall, tree or fence between 2 properties

Get legal advice if you’re thinking about making a boundary agreement.

What a boundary agreement can’t do

You can’t use a boundary agreement to sell or give away part of your land to your neighbour.

Get legal advice if you want to make sure the boundary agreement is still valid after you or your neighbour sell your property.

What to include in a boundary agreement

Your boundary agreement must include:

your name and address

your neighbour’s name and address

the date the agreement begins

the boundary you’ve agreed

You can include the boundary using:

a written description

a copy of an Ordnance Survey map - you can draw or write on it to show the boundary

a map you’ve drawn yourself

Example of a boundary agreement

“Boundary Agreement

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]

Signed

[Witness (Signature, name and address)]”

Record your boundary agreement

Fill in an application to change the register (AP1).

In section 4 under ‘Applications in priority order’, write: “To note a boundary agreement”. Under ‘Fees paid (£)’ write “£40”.

You don’t need to fill in sections 9 to 14.

You’ll need to send:

the completed AP1 form

a copy of the boundary agreement

a cheque or postal order for £40, payable to ‘HMLR’ or ‘HM Land Registry’

Send the documents and fee to:

Apply to record the exact boundary

You can only do this if your property is registered.

A determined boundary will still be valid if you or your neighbour sell your property.

Check your property’s title plan and register to see if it already has a determined boundary.

Apply for a determined boundary

You’ll need to send:

a plan showing the determined boundary - ask a chartered land surveyor to make this

evidence that supports your application

a completed exact line of boundary (DB) form

Evidence that supports your application

Send any evidence you have that justifies the surveyor’s boundary. This could include:

certified copies of the deeds to your property from before the property was registered

an expert’s report

a written statement signed in front of a solicitor, a magistrate or a commissioner of oaths

Send your application

The application costs £90. You’ll also need to pay the surveyor and the solicitor a fee.

If your neighbour agrees with your application, they’ll need to sign the form and the plan as well.

Send everything to:

If your neighbour objects to your application

If the tribunal approves your application

HMLR will send you a copy of your updated title plan and register. They’ll record the determined boundary in the register.

If the tribunal rejects your application

The tribunal will either decide where the exact boundary should be, or decide not to set the exact boundary.

You may need to pay your neighbour’s costs.

Correct a boundary mistake on a title plan

Write to HM Land Registry (HMLR) if you think there’s a boundary mistake on a property’s title plan.

You’ll need to:

explain why you think there’s a mistake

include any evidence that supports your argument, such as certified copies of the deeds to the property

Send everything to:

If HMLR finds that there’s a mistake, they’ll tell you how to correct it.