People who meet through dating apps usually keep their address to themselves in the early stages. It is worth knowing that some public records list names and addresses, and that there are official routes to limit that exposure. This guide summarises GOV.UK’s explanation of the electoral register and the open register, the anonymous registration option for people worried about their safety, and what the Land Registry shows about property. It is general information, not legal advice. It explains what the records contain and the steps GOV.UK describes.
The two versions of the electoral register
GOV.UK explains that the electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote. There are two versions: the full version and the open register, known as the edited register in Northern Ireland. The open register, GOV.UK says, is the version available to anyone who wants to buy a copy.
The full version contains everyone’s name and UK address, unless they registered anonymously, and a person cannot opt out of it. GOV.UK says it is used for elections and referendums and can only be used for a limited list of purposes:
- electoral administration, such as sending poll cards;
- campaigning activities by candidates and political parties;
- preventing and detecting crime;
- checking applications for loans or credit; and
- jury summoning in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Opting out of the open register
GOV.UK says anyone can opt out of the open register, and that opting out does not affect the right to vote. The details will still appear on the full version. It lists these ways to opt out:
- using the register to vote service, even if already registered and living in the UK;
- contacting the electoral registration office in England, Scotland or Wales;
- contacting the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland; or
- for overseas voters, contacting the electoral registration office that confirmed the registration.
The register to vote service itself notes that a person’s name and address will appear on the open register unless they asked to opt out when registering. Anyone who has already registered without opting out can therefore use the service again to change that choice.
Registering anonymously for safety reasons
GOV.UK says a person can register to vote anonymously if they are concerned about their name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons. It states that, for those using the England, Wales or Scotland form, the name and address will not appear on the electoral register, and that the electoral registration office will not disclose the details to anyone unless legally required. Anonymous registration also keeps a person off both versions of the register while still allowing them to vote.
The process is different from ordinary registration. The GOV.UK form page says the applicant must fill in the form, sign the declaration, provide supporting evidence, and return the form and evidence to their electoral registration office. An electoral registration office can post the form to anyone without a printer. The rules are different in Northern Ireland, and GOV.UK has a separate page on registering anonymously there. The form page is marked as applying to England, Scotland and Wales, with separate versions for England, Wales and Scotland.
The form’s guidance on the supporting evidence needed is on pages four and five of the official form, and the electoral registration office can help with completing it.
What the Land Registry shows about property in England and Wales
GOV.UK says that anyone can get information about registered property or land in England and Wales, even if they do not own it. The information includes the title register, which shows who owns the property or land and any rights of way, the title number and the title plan showing location and boundaries. A person can search the register and get copies of the title register and title plan, and can request copies of the deeds, which may show past information such as previous owners. This page covers England and Wales only.
For a person who owns their home, that means the ownership of a known address is a matter of public record.
Practical steps that follow from the sources
- Check the choice made on the electoral register, and opt out of the open register if the details should not be available to anyone who buys a copy.
- If safety is at risk, ask the electoral registration office about anonymous registration and the evidence required.
- Understand that a property owner’s name is linked to the address on the Land Registry for property in England and Wales.
Frequently asked questions
Does opting out of the open register stop a person voting?
No. GOV.UK says opting out does not affect the right to vote, although details remain on the full register.
Can anyone look up who owns a house in England or Wales?
GOV.UK says information about registered property, including the title register showing who owns it, can be obtained even by people who do not own it.
The bottom line
An address can appear in more than one public record. GOV.UK describes an opt-out from the open register that keeps voting rights, an anonymous registration route for people with safety concerns, and a Land Registry that publishes ownership details for registered property in England and Wales. Those options are worth knowing about for anyone who wants to keep an address private.