What is a Unique Property Reference Number?
Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) are identifiers for every addressable location in Great Britain. A property is allocated a UPRN with geographical coordinates to produce one true record for each address. An addressable location can include any kind of building, or object, that might not have a conventional address.
Previously, these unique identifiers could only be accessed by those with specific software and licences whereas they are now available to the public. If UPRNs are successfully adopted on a universal basis, many anticipate that they will optimise the conveyancing process.
Earlier this year, conveyancing solicitors signed an open letter urging MPs to encourage a streamlined adoption of UPRNs, in the hope of speeding up the property buying and selling process. Some months later, the government yields support in favour of a widespread adoption of this unique system of property identification, with the Minister for Housing, Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP stating that the widespread adoption of UPRNs is fundamental to supporting the post-pandemic landscape of the housing sector. Despite the government’s commendation of the UPRN model, we are yet to reach the level of significant public awareness required to universally implement the system.
How to find your UPRN:
UPRNs are allocated by the local authorities and Ordnance Survey (Britain’s national mapping agency). The local authorities are required to maintain a register of addresses, including UPRNs, which are submitted to GeoPlace, a limited liability partnership established in 2010 and owned by the Local Government Associations and Ordnance Survey.
Historically, an individual would contact their local council to retrieve their UPRN. However, now the UPRN identifiers, and their associated grid references, are available under Open Government License from the Ordnance Survey Data Hub through GeoPlace. The LLP’s site allows individuals to source their UPRN instantaneously under the site’s ‘Find My Address’ section. For more information please visit the Geoplace website: https://www.geoplace.co.uk/addresses-streets/data-in-use/uprn-and-property.
Benefits of a UPRN and the effect on conveyancing:
The benefits of implementing UPRNs across all property-related systems include prevention of errors when exchanging data. It is anticipated to optimise operational processes involving CRM, SaaS and other management software. Additionally, it provides a ‘socialised’ system of both internal and external data sharing.
By using this ‘socialised’ referencing system, processes such as conveyancing are predicted to benefit greatly. Rather than retrieving information on a specific property from multiple sources at various stages of conveyancing, data is held in one centralised storage point, increasing ease of accessibility.
So, although there is a paucity of public awareness, the government’s support of UPRNs suggests there will be significant changes to property identifiers within the field. The implementation of UPRNs across all property-based systems will hope to rid home buyers and sellers of long and arduous processes surrounding conveyancing and rather offer a streamlined experience.
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