Two very different services, one very similar name. Here's exactly what each one does — so you land on the right one first time.
HM Land Registry's "Property Alert" is a free government service that emails you when there's official activity — like a new mortgage or a search — on a property you own or care about, to help prevent title fraud. PropertyAlert.uk is a separate, independent commercial platform for property investors that tracks below-market-value (BMV) listings, ranks postcodes for investment potential, and scores individual listings for yield. They are not affiliated. If you searched for one and found the other, this page explains which you actually need.
What is HM Land Registry's Property Alert service?
Government service · Free · Fraud prevention
Property Alert is run directly by HM Land Registry, the government body that registers property ownership in England and Wales. It's a free monitoring tool built for one specific job: warning you about potential title fraud.
Here's how it works:
- You register up to 10 properties — you don't have to own them yourself, so you can monitor a relative's home too
- HM Land Registry emails you whenever it receives an official search or application against a monitored property — for example, someone applying for a new mortgage, or a solicitor searching the title ahead of a sale
- It does not block or reverse any change automatically — it simply alerts you so you can investigate and act quickly if the activity looks unauthorised
- There is no charge to sign up or to keep monitoring properties
It's a genuinely useful tool, and HM Land Registry reports it has helped stop dozens of registered title fraud attempts worth tens of millions of pounds each year. If you own property and haven't set this up yet, it's worth five minutes — sign up directly at propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk or read the official guidance on GOV.UK.
What is PropertyAlert.uk?
Commercial platform · Free trial · BMV & planning alerts
PropertyAlert.uk is an independent, privately-run intelligence platform built for property investors, landlords and deal sourcers — not a government fraud tool. It's designed to answer a completely different question: "where's the next good deal?" rather than "is my current property under attack?"
PropertyAlert.uk's tools include:
- BMV Finder — tracks live below-market-value listings priced 15%+ below the local sector median, filterable by postcode, price and target yield
- Top 100 postcodes ranked for BMV investment potential, updated monthly
- Instant investment score and a suggested offer range for any property listing you paste in
- Planning application alerts near a postcode of your choice, emailed twice daily
- A built-in rental yield calculator
In short: it condenses research an investor would otherwise do by hand — cross-referencing local prices, tracking planning activity, and calculating yield listing by listing — into a handful of ready-made tools.
Side-by-side comparison
| HM Land Registry Property Alert | PropertyAlert.uk | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | HM Land Registry (government) | Independent commercial platform |
| Core purpose | Title fraud warning | Deal sourcing & investment analysis |
| Who it's for | Homeowners & property owners | Investors, landlords, portfolio holders, sourcers |
| What triggers an alert | Official searches/applications on your registered property | New planning applications near your chosen postcode (twice-daily email) |
| Data scope | Up to 10 properties you specify | UK-wide BMV listings (15%+ below local median) and postcode planning data |
| Does it prevent fraud? | Alerts only — no automatic block | Not applicable — not a fraud tool |
| Cost | Free | Free 7-day trial, paid plans for full access |
Same name, different job — no affiliation
To be completely clear: PropertyAlert.uk is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HM Land Registry or any UK government department. The naming similarity is coincidental — "property alert" is a natural, descriptive phrase, and both services happen to use it. HM Land Registry's Property Alert is the only official government-run title fraud monitoring service; if that's what you're looking for, use the government link above.
PropertyAlert.uk is a separate, purpose-built tool for the commercial side of property — finding and evaluating deals, not protecting title deeds.
Which one do you actually need?
If you're a homeowner who wants a free early-warning system against title fraud on your own home (or a relative's), you want HM Land Registry's Property Alert. It costs nothing, takes a few minutes to set up, and does exactly one job well. Sign up on the official site →
If you're a landlord, investor or deal sourcer trying to find below-market-value opportunities, get an instant investment score on a listing, or track planning applications near a target postcode, that's exactly what PropertyAlert.uk was built for. Many portfolio landlords use both: HM Land Registry to protect what they already own, and PropertyAlert.uk to find what to buy next.
Frequently asked questions
Is Land Registry Property Alert the same as PropertyAlert.uk?
No. HM Land Registry's Property Alert is a free government service that emails you about official activity on a property you're monitoring, to help prevent title fraud. PropertyAlert.uk is a separate, independent commercial platform that tracks below-market-value (BMV) listings, ranks postcodes for investment potential, and scores listings for yield. They are not affiliated.
Is HM Land Registry's Property Alert service free?
Yes. It's completely free to monitor up to 10 properties in England and Wales, and there's no charge to sign up or keep alerts running.
Does HM Land Registry Property Alert stop fraud automatically?
No. It doesn't block or reverse any change to the register. It emails you when there's significant activity — like a new mortgage application or official search — so you can investigate and act quickly.
What does PropertyAlert.uk actually do?
PropertyAlert.uk gives investors a BMV Finder for listings priced 15%+ below the local sector median, a top 100 postcodes ranking for BMV investment potential, an instant investment score for any listing you paste in, twice-daily planning application alerts near a chosen postcode, and a rental yield calculator.
Which one do I need — Land Registry Property Alert or PropertyAlert.uk?
Homeowners wanting free fraud protection should use HM Land Registry's Property Alert. Landlords, investors and deal sourcers looking for BMV deals, planning alerts and instant yield analysis should use PropertyAlert.uk. Many portfolio landlords use both.
How do I sign up for the official HM Land Registry Property Alert service?
Go to propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk, create a free account, and add the title number or address of each property you want to monitor.
Looking for your next deal, not a fraud alert?
PropertyAlert.uk tracks below-market-value listings, ranks the UK's best postcodes for BMV investment, and gives you an instant investment score on any listing. Start free, no card required.
Start your free trial →PropertyAlert.uk is an independent commercial service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HM Land Registry or any UK government department. For official title fraud protection, always use HM Land Registry's Property Alert service directly at propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk.