UPRNs and HM Land Registry address strings - what's the difference?

When working with UK property data, it's essential to understand the distinction between two key identifiers: the UPRN and the Land Registry address string . While both relate to locations and properties, they serve different purposes and behave in very different ways. What is a UPRN? A UPRN (Unique Property Reference Number) is a 12-digit numeric identifier assigned to every addressable location in Great Britain. Managed by Ordnance Survey, the UPRN remains consistent over time and provides a stable reference point for linking datasets across systems. Key features: Nationally unique and persistent Covers all property types — residential, commercial, land, and even utility installations Does not change even if the property's address or name changes Used extensively by government and commercial systems for data integration Refers to a latitude and longitude point data Example: 100021064175 To find a UPRN UK web users can vi...