Please note that this Authority can only administer house name changes to properties within South Hams District Councils jurisdiction.
If you wish to change the name of your property, or add an official ‘alias name’ to your property you must follow this procedure. The Royal Mail does not accept name changes from anyone other than a Local Authority.
To request a change to a property name, the owner must complete the relevant application form, supply a location plan and pay the appropriate fee.
To make an application, please complete the ‘Change of House Name’ application form and return to Street Naming and Numbering.
You can submit your application by the following methods:
By Post – Please send your application form, cheque and a plan to the Street Naming and Numbering Officer - Development Management, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, TOTNES TQ9 5NE
By Email – Please send your application form and plan to House.Naming@southhams.gov.uk, and supply your contact details so that we may contact you to make a payment using our debit/credit card system.
Requests can only be accepted from the legal owners of property.
All applications must be accompanied by a site location plan - this should be at a minimum scale of 1:2500 and should contain sufficient detail to accurately locate the property.
All applications must be accompanied by the fee of £21.00 per property.
The Council cannot formally change a property name where the property is in the process of being purchased, that is, until exchange of contracts has been completed, although the Council can give guidance on the acceptability of a chosen name change, in principal, before exchange of contracts.
A check is made by the Council to ensure there are no other properties in the locality with the same name. Under no circumstances will the Council allow a replicated house name in the same postal area; the SNN officer can refuse such names. The Council also strongly recommends against using similar sounding names, although we will not refuse these requests. The Royal Mail cannot guarantee mail delivery if the Councils advice is ignored.
Under no circumstances will the Council allow a name that is offensive, or can be construed as offensive.
If the property already has a house number, it is not permitted to replace the number with a name. However the Council will allow you to add an ‘alias name’ to the address. The name will be held by the Royal Mail on their ‘alias file’ and will not form part of the official address. The alias name can only be used with the property number, not as a replacement of it.
Once all the checks have been satisfactorily completed and the necessary fees received the Council will change the name of the property and advise all relevant Authorities accordingly.
The Council will then confirm the new official postal address in writing to the owner of the property.
It is advisable to retain both the old house name and the new house name outside of your property for 6 months until your new house name is fully established.
Please send your request to:-
Street Naming and Numbering Section
South Hams District Council
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
TOTNES
Devon
TQ9 5NE
You can or email your request to House.Naming@southhams.gov.uk, please remember to attach a plan and a contact number so that we may contact you for a credit or debit card payment.
Please note that this Authority can only administer house name changes to properties within South Hams District Council jurisdiction.
Please contact your own Local Authority if you wish to change the name of a property outside of the South Hams area.
