Registering your location - Surrey Film Office

Register your property

If you have a property or location you would like to make available for filming, please complete our online registration form.

Your listing will require a selection of photos of the property or location, so we recommend having these ready when completing the form.

To view or amend an existing registered location, you can access your account via the log-in page.

What to expect

When you register your property on our locations database, your property will be included in production searches, looking for their next filming location. If a production company is interested in your property, they will ask their location manager or a member of their production team to visit (recce) your property, where they will take comprehensive photographs to show the director. It is important to keep in mind that most initial requests for locations are simply preliminary enquiries and will not directly result in filming taking place.

If the production company decide they would like to hire your property for filming, then you must ensure that you are happy with their requirements, in terms of alterations, use of furniture and use of power within your property. Ensure that the production company has Public Liability Insurance to a minimum value of £5 or £10mil, dependant on the location.

A production company will normally pay a fee to use your property. This will vary according to the nature of the production, and is negotiable. You can also negotiate the contract with the filmmakers, to ensure that your property and your rights as owners are fully protected. Your negotiations will form the basis of a location agreement with the production company. Some companies will insist on using a standard filming agreement for filming at your property, so make sure that you read the terms and conditions and do request an amendment to anything that you are not happy with.

If you would like any advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Please note: Surrey Film Office does not provide direct advice regarding fees and contracts, and does not negotiate on behalf of filmmakers, property owners or land agents.

Here’s some useful tips to remember:

Agree on a point of contact from the production company and get contact details, including mobile number. You can also ask them to get in contact with us, so we have the project logged.
Try to get an idea of the scale of the project: number of crew and cast, and dates including prep and re-instatement periods.
Ask them for their intentions, ideally in writing, of exactly what changes they will make and to ensure they reinstate these after filming.
Ask them which other areas of the property they would like to use as green-rooms, equipment storage, changing rooms, make-up etc and make sure you are happy with these.
Ensure you get a copy of their Public Liability Insurance, every production should have one.
Whether you decide to form your own location agreement, or agree to a productions filming contract, make sure you request any amendments to anything you’re not happy with, before agreeing.
Talk to your neighbours and keep them informed. Be prepared for some disruption, since film crews can be large and noisy, so it is always vital to let everyone know who may be affected by this.
Images are key to your registration on the locations database; take photographs of the front and rear elevation of your property, the interior and exterior entrances, the main reception rooms, hallway, stairs, kitchen and any other key features. Taking photos from each corner of the room is a good way to get an idea of scale and layout of your property.
Take photos of driveway or roads directly outside of your property.
Don’t take any photos of areas that you will not allow filming