Leases

All land within the Network is held by the Network. The Lands Office of the Velocity Interoperability Network does not sell land; it grants leases of it to member organisations, to their staff and to citizens of the Network. Every lease is recorded in the Land Register against the parcel it covers, together with the registered lease plan.

At establishment the Office took over 1,184 leases granted by member organisations before 6 September 2026. Those leases continue in force on their existing terms until they expire or are renewed, and leaseholders need take no action. Each leaseholder will receive written confirmation of the registered particulars of their lease by 30 October 2026.

Classes of lease. Network land may be held under one of five classes of lease. The class determines the permitted use, the maximum term and the basis of rent.

Class A: Operational lease

For the offices, works, depots and technical facilities of member organisations of the Network. Granted for a term of up to 25 years, renewable, with rent reviewed every five years.

Class B: Residential lease

For housing occupied by the staff of member organisations and by citizens of the Network. Granted for a term of up to 10 years, renewable, with rent fixed for the term.

Class C: Agricultural lease

For the cultivation of land, grazing and forestry. Granted for a term of up to 15 years with conditions on the maintenance of boundaries, drainage and soil.

Class D: Short lease

For works compounds, temporary storage, events and other uses of less than one year. Granted for a term of up to 12 months and not renewable beyond a second term.

Class E: Community lease

For land used in common by the staff and citizens of a district, such as allotments, playing fields and meeting grounds. Granted to a recognised association for a term of up to 5 years without rent.

Residential leases are the most numerous, accounting for nearly half the leases in force, and are concentrated in the Central, Meridian and Southbank districts. Operational leases cover the greatest area. The schedule of rents for each class and district will be published in the Newsroom before applications open.

Standard conditions. The conditions below form part of every lease granted by the Office. Conditions particular to the class of lease or to the parcel are set out in the offer of terms.

Use

The land may be used only for the purpose stated in the lease. A change of use requires the Office's written consent and may require a change of class.

Boundaries and markers

The leaseholder must keep the boundaries of the parcel as registered and must not disturb any boundary marker on or adjoining the land.

Assignment and subletting

A lease may be assigned to another person entitled to hold it, or sublet in part, only with the Office's written consent, which is recorded in the Land Register.

Access for survey

The leaseholder must allow the Office's survey teams access to the land on reasonable notice for the purposes of boundary and parcel surveys.

Rent and review

Rent is payable in advance at the intervals stated in the lease. Where the lease provides for review, the Office gives six months' notice of the reviewed rent.

Termination

The Office may terminate a lease for breach of condition after written notice and a period of not less than three months to remedy the breach. The Network may resume leased land for public purposes on twelve months' notice and payment of compensation for improvements.

Applying for a lease. Applications for every class of lease are made in the same way.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check that the parcel is available

   Search the Land Register for the parcel you wish to lease. Land held in hand by the Network may be applied for; land already leased or reserved may not, unless the lease is due to expire within twelve months.

2. 2

   Step 2: Write to the Office

   Send the parcel number, the class of lease sought, the proposed use, the term requested and your name, organisation where relevant and email address to the Office. Applications open on Monday 21 September 2026 and are dealt with in order of receipt.

3. 3

   Step 3: Acknowledgement and inspection

   The Office acknowledges every application within five working days and arranges an inspection of the parcel by a survey team. You may attend the inspection.

4. 4

   Step 4: Offer of terms or refusal

   Within six weeks of acknowledgement the Office issues an offer setting out the class, term, rent and conditions of the lease, or a written refusal giving reasons. An offer may be accepted within 28 days; after that it lapses.

5. 5

   Step 5: Execution and registration

   On acceptance the lease is executed by the Office and the leaseholder and recorded in the Land Register. The leaseholder receives a copy of the lease, the registered lease plan and the particulars of the entry in the Register.

An application may be withdrawn at any time before acceptance by writing to the Office. A refusal may be reconsidered on written request setting out the grounds, and the Office answers a request for reconsideration within four weeks.

Enquiries about an existing lease or a proposed application may be sent to contact@lands.gov.vin, quoting the parcel number. For how to search the Register before applying, see Land Register; for the survey that accompanies every new lease, see Surveys; for answers to common questions, see the frequently asked questions.