# Expired Domain Recovery: Getting a Lapsed Name Back

Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/expired-domain-recovery/
Updated: 2026-10-18

> dijitul recovers expired domains at £45 an hour + VAT. We find which registrar holds the name, work out where it is in the expiry timeline, get it renewed or restored, and put the DNS, website and email back. A .uk name can be renewed until day 90 after expiry; a .com has a redemption period before release.

Price: £45 an hour + VAT

## Key facts

- Recovery work is £45 an hour + VAT
- .uk: suspended at day 30, renewable until the end of day 90
- .uk: cancellation warning around day 83, released after day 90
- gTLD: registrar grace period, then a 30-day Redemption Grace Period
- gTLD restore fees are set by the registrar
- After pending delete (about 5 days) a gTLD is released to anyone

## First, work out where you are

Recovery depends on two things: the extension, and how many days have passed since expiry. A WHOIS or RDAP lookup on the domain shows the registrar and usually the status. Note the expiry date and count forward.

If the website and email stopped suddenly, an expired domain is one of the first things to check. Our guide [my domain has expired](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/domain-expired/) covers the quick checks you can do yourself.

Write down the extension, the registrar and the expiry date before doing anything else. Those three facts decide what is possible and how quickly you need to move.

## The .uk timeline

| When | What happens to a .uk, .co.uk or .org.uk |

| Before expiry | Nominet sends reminders |
| Day 30 after expiry | Domain suspended: website and email stop |
| Around day 83 | Cancellation warning sent |
| Up to end of day 90 | Can still be renewed |
| After day 90 | Cancelled and released for anyone to register |

Within the 90 days, renewal goes through the registrar that holds the IPS tag. If that registrar has vanished or won't respond, the registrant can deal with Nominet directly.

Suspension at day 30 is the point most owners notice, because the website and email stop. That still leaves around two months to renew, so a suspended .uk is usually recoverable.

## The .com, .org and .net timeline

- **Registrar grace period.** Length varies by registrar, often up to 30 to 45 days. Renewal is usually possible at a normal or slightly higher price.
- **Redemption Grace Period.** 30 days. The name can be restored, but the registrar charges a restore fee that it sets itself.
- **Pending delete.** About five days. Nothing can be done.
- **Released.** Anyone can register it, first come, first served.

ICANN requires registrars to send reminders before expiry, but they go to the registrant email on file, which may be out of date.

The exact grace period depends on the registrar, so check their terms rather than assuming 30 or 45 days. If the domain is already in redemption, expect to pay the restore fee.

## What recovery involves

The renewal itself is quick. The time goes on the parts around it:

- Identifying the registrar and the account that holds the domain.
- Proving who the registrant is when the account belongs to a former supplier or employee.
- Getting the renewal or restore done before the next deadline.
- Checking the DNS still exists afterwards. Some registrars wipe records on suspension, so MX, SPF and website records may need rebuilding.
- Moving the name somewhere it won't lapse again.

## If the domain has already gone

Once a .uk passes day 90 or a .com is released, it's open to anyone. If nobody has taken it, you can register it again in [the dijitul client portal](https://clients.dijitul.uk). If someone has, you'll need a different name, or to approach the new owner. That's why acting in the first few weeks matters.

Don't assume a released name will still be free tomorrow. Domains with traffic or history are sometimes registered again within hours of release. If you are near the end of the 90 days, or near the end of redemption, treat it as urgent.

## How dijitul helps

Recovery work is charged at £45 an hour + VAT. Call [01623 650333](tel:01623650333) or [contact us](https://dijituldns.co.uk/contact/) with the domain name. Once it's back, set it to auto-renew; our [domain renewal](https://dijituldns.co.uk/domain-renewal/) page explains how to stop it happening again.

## FAQs

### My .co.uk expired last month. Can I get it back?

Very likely. A .uk name is suspended 30 days after expiry but can be renewed until the end of the 90th day. Renew it through the registrar holding the IPS tag. dijitul can handle this at £45 an hour + VAT.

### Why did my email stop when the domain expired?

Email depends on the domain's DNS, including its MX records. When a .uk domain is suspended at day 30, or a gTLD expires, the DNS stops resolving normally, so mail to your addresses cannot be delivered.

### What is a redemption period?

For .com, .org and .net, the Redemption Grace Period is 30 days after the registrar grace period ends. The domain can still be restored, but the registrar charges a restore fee, which it sets itself and is usually more than a normal renewal.

### How much does it cost to recover an expired domain?

Our recovery work is £45 an hour + VAT. On top of that is the renewal, or for a gTLD in redemption, the restore fee set by the registrar. A simple .uk renewal within 90 days usually takes little time.

### Someone registered my domain after it expired. What can I do?

Once a domain is released, the new registrant owns it legally. You can ask whether they will sell, or choose a different name. If you believe it was registered in bad faith to exploit your name, take legal advice.

### Will my DNS records still be there after renewal?

Sometimes not. Some registrars clear or replace DNS records when a domain is suspended or parked. After any recovery, check the website, MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, and rebuild what is missing.

## Prices and contact

Domains are priced live in the client portal. DNS management and 10 mailboxes are included with dijihost Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT. On their own, DNS and email set-up is £45 an hour + VAT or a fixed quote. Domain search and registration: https://clients.dijitul.uk. Hosting: https://dijihost.co.uk/ (£1 a day + VAT). Contact: https://dijituldns.co.uk/contact/ · 01623 650333 · info@dijitul.uk