Why it matters
The person or organisation named as the registrant is the legal holder of a domain. For .UK domains, Nominet says that when you register a domain you enter into a contract with your registrar that includes Nominet’s terms (The UK Domain). If a designer registers the domain in their own name, they are the registrant, not you.
How to check who owns your domain
- For .UK domains, use Nominet’s lookup on nominet.uk to see the registrar and expiry date. By default, the registrant’s name and address are not displayed (The UK Domain), so ask your registrar or log in to Nominet Online Services to confirm the registrant name.
- For .com and other domains, check your registrar account, or ask the designer for a screenshot of the registrant details.
How it should be set up
- Registrant: you, or your company or organisation, using its full legal name. Nominet asks for a full legal entity so it can validate details against public data sources (The UK Domain).
- Contact email: an address you control long-term, not the designer’s and not a departing staff member’s personal inbox.
- Registrar account: in your name, with two-factor authentication switched on.
- Renewal: auto-renew on, with a payment card that won’t expire unnoticed.
Hosting and logins
- Know which company hosts the site and whose name the hosting contract is in.
- Have your own admin login to the site’s content management system.
- Know how backups work and how to get a copy.
- Keep a record of DNS settings, especially email records, so a move doesn’t break your email.
If your designer holds your domain
- Ask them in writing to transfer the domain to you as registrant. For .UK domains, this is a registrant transfer, which can be done by an accredited registrar or through Nominet Online Services for a fee of £10 plus VAT (The UK Domain, checked 20 October 2026).
- If you also want to change registrar, ask for the domain to be unlocked and for a transfer code, or switch registrar in Nominet Online Services (The UK Domain).
- Agree a handover date for hosting and email so nothing goes offline.
Questions people ask
Can my web designer refuse to give me my domain?
If they are the registrant, the domain is legally theirs unless your contract says otherwise, which is why it should be in your name from the start. If you have a written agreement that the domain is yours, use it. Nominet runs a Dispute Resolution Service for some .UK domain disputes.
Is it OK for my designer to manage my domain?
Yes, as long as you are the registrant and you also have access. Management and ownership are different things.
What happens if my domain expires?
For .UK domains, Nominet describes a 30-day expiry grace period and a redemption period up to 90 days, after which the domain is deleted and can be registered by anyone. Your registrar may suspend services sooner.
- The UK Domain (Nominet) – Terms for registering a domain
- The UK Domain – Is my personal info visible online?
- The UK Domain – How do I update contact details?
- The UK Domain – How do I transfer my domain to someone else?
- The UK Domain – Can I switch registrar?
- The UK Domain – What if I don’t renew by expiry?
- Nominet – .UK domains and lookup
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