FAQs

As you start typing an address, the results will automatically be returned in the search results. If no results appear then the search has not found any matches.

You will obtain the most accurate results by searching for the address as it is typically written on an envelope, this can include the following information;

• Building, Flat or Unit Number
• Building name if applicable
• Street name
• Post town
• postcode

You can also search for commercial properties using their business name (as they appear on the shop front) in the same way, such as “GeoPlace 157 197 Buckingham Palace Road SW1W 9SZ”.

We only show up to 200 results at one time, however, the more details you enter, the more accurate the search results will be and the likelihood of finding the property you are looking for.

For example if you only typed in a postcode, then you could get up to 100 results returned as a postcode can contain multiple properties.

To ensure you are providing enough information when you search, you should include the building number and postcode for the property as a minimum such as: “157 SW1W 9SZ”

It may be the case that you need to search more accurately by entering more information. Please see the above FAQ "How do I search for an address?".

Alternatively, it could mean that the property you are searching for is still under review by your local authority, for example if it is new and still progressing through the planning processes.

If you don’t believe this is the case, and you still cannot find the address you are looking for, then please report this to Ordnance Survey via the OS Data Hub. Please note you will need to sign up and create a user account in order to do so. Once reported, you will be able to view your address issue and be notified with status updates as it progresses.

The data behind FindMyAddress contains alternative (alias) addresses which are captured by local authorities where known.

For example, a property may officially be known to the local authority by its building number only such as “15 Church Drive”. However, through the use of a nameplate or historical local precedent, it may be unofficially known as “Sunshine Cottage, Church Drive”.

If the local authority is aware of this then “Sunshine Cottage” will exist as an alternative (alias) address, meaning both representations will be searchable in FindMyAddress and AddressBase®.

Any modifications to, or designation of an officially known address must go through the respective local authority’s Street Name and Numbering process.

When using FindMyAddress, if a property has an alternative address, it is always better to use the representation that contains the building number as this helps with locating the property along the street.

If you discover an address that doesn’t look quite right then it may be due to the addition of the official Royal Mail Post Town.

As per Royal Mail’s PAF© Code of Practice: “The postal address is a sorting and routing instruction to Royal Mail’s staff and not always a geographically accurate description of where a property is located. As mail is circulated via Post Towns it may, for example, include the name of that town which could be several miles away, as that is where your mail is processed.”

FindMyAddress uses both the geographic Town (officially assigned by local authorities) and Royal Mail’s Post Town to construct an address. Where these are the same then only one occurrence is displayed.

If the above does not answer your question, then please report this to Ordnance Survey via the OS Data Hub. Please note you will need to sign up and create a user account in order to do so. If you are reporting an issue against an address found in FindMyAddress then please make a note of its UPRN as this can be used to search for the property in question.

Once reported, you will be able to view your address issue and be notified with status updates as it progresses.

Royal Mail is the authoritative organisation which owns and assigns all postcodes in the UK for the purposes of delivering mail. To check your officially assigned postcode or if you have a query, then please visit the Royal Mail website.

FindMyAddress is underpinned by Ordnance Surveys AddressBase® Premium product which comprises local authority address data along with Royal Mail postcode data (PAF®). It also assigns postcodes to physical features and objects that don’t receive mail such as open spaces and telephone boxes which is why you will see these with a postcode.

For further information, please see Ordnance Surveys AddressBase® range of products.

GeoPlace assigns a range of UPRNs to each local authority and to Ordnance Survey. The UPRNs are then allocated to individual properties, areas of land and objects. In addition, Ordnance Survey also allocates UPRNs to unique objects in the landscape that otherwise wouldn’t have a ‘normal’ address, such as a pond, electricity substation or a communications mast.

UPRNs are allocated against a property or street as soon as ‘construction' begins or ‘street naming and numbering' has been carried out – whichever comes first.

Please see the GeoPlace website for more information about UPRNs

We use the phrase “official address” to mean that the postal delivery addresses displayed in FindMyAddress originate from the authoritative creators of this data. These data creators are local authorities and Royal Mail respectively.

Local authorities have a legal responsibility to name streets and number buildings within their respective boundaries to which Royal Mail, for postal delivery purposes, then create and assign their “post town” and “postcode” to.

When this data is combined (as seen in FindMyAddress), this is what we term the “official address” as these are drawn from the official data creator sources.

Yes, if the address you’re looking for has a Welsh or Gaelic equivalent version captured by its local authority, then you will be able to search for and view this on FindMyAddress.

These records are denoted by the respective “Cymraeg” and “Gaelic” labels in the search results.

Property classifications

There are currently 562 different property classifications that exist in FindMyAddress. These include:

• Commercial properties
• Residential properties
• Land
• Military establishments
• Parent Shells (for example a named block containing individual flats)
• Objects of Interest / Unclassified / Other properties

A full list can be downloaded from the Ordnance Survey website.

To help improve your search experience, FindMyAddress excludes “Street Records” which are used to represent a street rather than a property.

The property lifecycle

As well as “live” properties (currently in use), FindMyAddress also includes “provisional” properties, for example those created for proposed or current planning developments.

“Historical” records have been excluded in order to improve your search experience. These are properties which have been demolished or are no longer in use. Historical records can be found in the AddressBase® range of products.

You can find out more about the property lifecycle in our reference document: “The UPRN lifecycle from planning to demolition”.

Alternative (alias) addresses

FindMyAddress also includes “alternative” (alias) addresses where available. These are variations on the official address. Please see FAQ 3 for further information.

We limit the searches to only 30 per day, per user (based on your device’s IP address) because the data behind FindMyAddress is drawn from commercially available, licensed products.

If you need more searches, please take a look at the AddressBase® range of products available from Ordnance Survey (OS).

The emergency services, central and local government are licensed to carry out unlimited searches on the GeoPlace Search Site under the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement.

Data is updated on a weekly basis.

If you are experiencing any problems or have any questions about FindMyAddress then please let us know by using the red “Report Feedback” tab on the right-hand side of the web page.

Please provide as much detail as possible as this will help us investigate the issue more thoroughly and aid communication with the respective local authority if needed. We will aim to get back to you within 28 days.