How to Change Your House Name in the UK

Don’t like your house name, or want to change it to something more fitting, how easy is it to do? If you follow the right steps and contact the right people, it can be done for little cost. What's more, research shows that it can even add up to £5,000 to the value of your property.

The Process to Change Your House Name

Providing that you’re the owner of the property, you can change the name of a building by jumping through a few administerial hoops.

First of all, you need to request to change the name of your property by contacting your local authority, this is usually the council your property comes under, the one you pay your council tax to. In the UK, not only is your local council responsible for the naming of existing properties, but they are also responsible for the naming of new properties too.  

Although the information which the council request from the homeowner may vary from one council to another, generally they will require the following information:

Your Name

You'll need to use your full legal name, the same used when you purchased your property.

Current House Name

You'll need to let the council know the full address of the house/building you want to change the name of.

Proposed House Name

Let them know the new name your want for your property. In most cases, you can only change the house name/first address line.

A Location Plan

This highlights the position of the property, as well as the immediate surrounding area for the context of the location.

Contact Information

Make sure to provide your contact details, usually an email and phone number is required.

Consider the Area Around Your Home

The council will review the proposed change to make certain that the name does not offend, before consulting with Royal Mail to ensure the new name doesn’t interfere with any other properties of a similar name in the local area. Once all is approved by the council and Royal Mail, a certificate confirming the proposed change must be sent to the Electoral Registry Office, the Land Registry office, as well as the Council Tax and Planning Department. Your local council will be able to do this for you for a price varying from £35-80 depending on which ruling authority you fall under.

Be Aware of Any Fees

Many councils charge a small fee for processing a house name change, typically around £20 to £50. Check with your local authority regarding the fee amount.

Wait for Confirmation

The council will review your request and check if the new name is acceptable and doesn’t conflict with existing property names. Once approved, they will update their records and notify the Royal Mail and other relevant bodies.

Inform Service Providers and Contacts

After receiving approval, notify:

  • Utility providers (gas, electricity, water).
  • Banks and insurance companies.
  • Friends and family.
  • Any subscription services or deliveries.
  • Your local electoral registration office (so your voting records are updated).

Special Circumstances

If you live in a numbered house (example: 38 Forest View), you may need to retain the number as part of your address. For example, it would change to 38 Rosedale rather than just removing the number entirely.

Order a New House Sign

Once your name change has been confirmed with the local authorities, you might be considering what more you could do to add value to your home. With your new house name in place, it’s time to order a new house sign for your property. This will be the final step to ensure your property is well signposted for any postal worker or guest to find your house. Creating your slate house sign has never been easier with The Bespoke Sign House. Once you’ve chosen your wording, you can customise the positioning and font, all while viewing a preview of your prospective sign before it’s made and dispatched to you. With timely updates from the manufacturing team on when your sign is made and dispatched, you’ll have your new handmade house sign with you before you know it.

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