Local authorities in England and Wales have a statutory duty to:
- name streets within their borough.
- number/name properties in those streets
The local authority is responsible for naming and numbering, but only Royal Mail can assign postcodes.
Organisations such as the Land Registry or Royal Mail and other Council departments, such as Planning or Council Tax, do not have the legislative powers to create or allocate property names/numbers or street names. Therefore, all naming and numbering enquiries should be sent to SNN@harrow.gov.uk.
Utility companies will not provide services until an address is registered with the Royal Mail. For large developments, we recommend that you submit an application early in the development stage.
A definitive national address database verifies the existence of addresses. This information is shared with internal council services. These include Council Tax, Electoral Services, School admissions, Bins & Waste and many more.
Address information is also shared and used externally, such as Royal Mail and emergency services, broadband providers, delivery services.
It is important that the information we hold is accurate and up to date.
What is a Street Naming and Numbering application required for?
A Street Naming and Numbering application is required to do any of the following:
- Name/number a new development
- Name/number a new build
- Name/number a converted property
- Re-name/number an existing property
- Remove an address of a demolished property
- Obtain a certificate of an official address
If you don't follow the rules for naming and numbering streets, you could face legal action. This is under Section 15 of the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939.
Who should apply?
Only the legal owner of the property/land can apply for Street Naming and Numbering. We may request proof of ownership, such as Land Registry Deeds.
Adding a name or changing a name of a building
To add or change an existing name you will need to complete a Street Naming and Numbering application, providing a minimum of 2 names.
All names must go through a 28-day consultation with Royal Mail and Emergency Services.
Please ensure you read the Street Naming and Numbering Guidance.
How we assign names and numbers
There are different legislations that guide local authorities on how streets and building must be named/numbered:
- London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939 – Part 2
- London Government Act 1963, Section 43
- Local Government Act 1985 (Schedule 8, 14(1))
Street Naming and Numbering fees
Below are the fees for applications made between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026.
You will need to make the payment online. Choose option 'Highways' - 'Street/House Name/No.'
Please provide the reference number you have been provided and/or the property address of the application.
Application types and fees
- Application for renaming an existing road with properties: £303.02 plus £43.14 per property
- Naming or renaming of house / block of flats / commercial premises: £260.00
- Creation of a new road: £260.00
- Numbering: 1-5 units: £265.00 per unit
- Numbering: 6-20 units: £45.00 per unit
- Numbering: 21-50 units: £47.00 per unit
- Numbering: 51 - 75 units: £50.00 per unit
- Numbering over 75 units: £55.00 per unit
- Certificate of naming/numbering/historic documents: £129.30
Please note, when numbering more than 5 units, the fees are still calculated £265 x 5 for the first 5 units and so on.
Click to view the following examples:
Before you apply
Before applying for street naming/numbering, please read our SNN policy document and Naming and Numbering Building Regulations document. These outline how and why we name/number and what your obligations as the owner/occupier/developer are.
Apply for street name or numbering
Your application must include:
- application form
- payment made online for the relevant fee (shown above)
Any application for a new development, new build or conversion must also include:
- a site plan to show the external entrance to each affected property
- a floor plan to show the external entrance to each affected property
- a copy of planning approval (decision notice)
If you have not obtained planning approval, we will not be able to process your application. See Apply for Planning Permission.
What happens next?
After you submit your application we will:
- Confirm we have received your application. We will confirm if there are any missing documents or if we need more information.
- If you have proposed a name, we will check for duplication and send out the 28-day consultation to Royal Mail and emergency services. Once we have received all replies, we will contact you to advise on the outcome. If all names are rejected, a new 28-day consultation will need to be produced and sent out.
- Complete the official naming/numbering and produce the Confirmation Notice, and if relevant, Plot to Postal document. The timescale for this can vary depending on the type of applications and number of units.
- Where required, we may need to check the correct postcode(s) with Royal Mail. Extra time should be allowed for this process.
- Forward the completed documents to the applicant, Royal Mail, emergency services, VOA office, Council Tax and other internal departments.
- Royal Mail will add the addresses to their ‘not yet built’ system if the property is still under construction or their live ‘PAF’ system if the property is occupied.
- If the property is still under construction, you will then need to notify Royal Mail once the property is completed to add to PAF.
Council Tax
The Council Tax department are informed of all new addresses.
All new addresses are added to their database and bills will be calculated and sent out.
Street Naming and Numbering do not deal with Council Tax bills or enquiries.
For more information, see Council Tax.