Public data – frequently asked questions

General questions

How often do you publish the data?
How accurate is the data?
How do I search within the data files?
In what form is the data published?
What is Crown Copyright?
Who should I contact if I am concerned about privacy?
What is linked data?
Why does Land Registry provide linked data?
What other data do you provide?

Transaction data

What is transaction data?
Why is there a discrepancy between the number of applications I have lodged by my firm and the number appearing in your data?
Who do I contact about the transaction data?
What do the abbreviations in the transaction data mean?
What is meant by searches and official copies?
Where can I find transaction data from before December 2011?
How do I report an issue with the transaction data?

Price paid data

Price paid data questions

General questions about our public data

How often do you publish the data?

The data is published every month and covers information for the preceding month. We intend to archive the data at the end of each calendar year.

Back to index

How accurate is the data?

The data published has been collected from a variety of sources as part of the land registration process. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that the data we provide is as accurate as possible we cannot guarantee it is fit for your intended purpose or use.

Errors may arise for various reasons such as human error when the data is captured. If you intend to publish or quote from the data supplied, please let us know in advance of publication.

If you want to report an error in the price paid data please complete the online report form. We will then check our records and change them where necessary. You must supply both the postcode and date of sale.

For queries relating to transaction data contact DRO@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk.

Back to index

How do I search within the transaction or price paid data files?

You can search for this in two ways:

To use the find facility in the CSV format files. Use Ctrl and F, a box will appear; type in the name required then click 'Find all'. This will take you to the first instance where the name occurs. If there are other instances then click on 'next'.
Place the cursor at the top of the column, click on 'Sort and Filter' – 'sort A-Z'. This will put all the names in alphabetical order. You can then scroll down to the name you require.

Please make sure you do not save changes when exiting the spreadsheet.

An explanation of the information in each of the columns for Price Paid data can be found under the heading, 'What do the abbreviations mean in the price paid data?'

Back to index

In what form is the data published?

The data is currently available in two CSV formats (with and without columns) and a text format. In future we may publish the information in other formats and in time we may publish other data.

Back to index

What is Crown copyright?

Copyright and database right works produced by government departments is protected either by Crown copyright or Crown database rights. The data is subject to Crown copyright and there may be other important publication restrictions. For further Information see the Crown copyright page on this website.

Back to index

Who should I contact if I am concerned about privacy?

The publication and use of price paid data is freely licensed using the OGL and will be free at the point of use. We carried out a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) in March 2012 and a further evaluation of the impact of the price paid data publication. Read the Review of Privacy Impacts - Price Paid Data.

Section 11(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 gives individuals the right to prevent the use of their personal data for direct marketing purposes. You can opt out of receiving direct marketing material. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions on the ICO's website.

You can also get details on how to find out what information we hold and how to ask us to correct any mistakes from our data protection page or request the details by emailing: dataprotection@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk.

Back to index

What is Linked Data?

Linked Data is data in which real-world things are given addresses on the web (URIs), and data is published about them in machine-readable formats. Linked data is about increased transparency and about sharing the information we hold with the wider community.

In practice, linking data works by providing real objects or places with a web address known as a uniform resource identifier (URI). This could be an object or a place such as a school, house or beach.

Organisations are then able to publish data in machine-readable format which enables the data to be linked to the object or place. By using a simple set of guidelines, linked data enables a consistent and easy way of finding data and linking them together.

Back to index

Why does Land Registry provide linked data?

Land Registry is making its public data available as linked data through a standard API to allow the results to be presented in many formats.

Back to index

What other data do you provide?

Alongside our public data, we provide commercial data through our range of Add Value services. Find out more about our Add Value services.

Back to index

Transaction data questions

What is Transaction data?

Transaction data gives information about how many applications for first registrations, leases, transfers of part, dealings, official copies and searches were completed by us by account holders in the preceding month.
The data is divided into data showing transactions for value, by region and local authority district.
Transactions for value include freehold and leasehold sales. For example, sale of parts out of registered titles, sales/transfers of freehold houses, existing leasehold flats.

Back to index

Why is there a discrepancy between the number of applications I have lodged by my firm and the number appearing in your data?

The transaction data covers only those applications where a Land Registry account number is quoted on the application form. This "key number", as we call it, is one of the fields that is used in the process of collating the data. It can be used to verify the firms that have such accounts. Where an application is lodged without quoting a key number, the name and address of the conveyancer has to be inputted manually. firms added manually are not part of the program we use to generate the data. To include manual data would be very time consuming. This is why only those applications where a key number has been used are included in the transaction data published. This means that, in those cases where a firm either pays by cheque or does not include the key number, those applications will not be included as part of the captured data. If you want to make sure all your applications appear in the data, please make sure a key number is included on the application form.

Back to index

Who do I contact about transaction data?

If you have a query about the transaction data, you should contact our Departmental Records officer by email at DRO@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk.

Back to index

What do the abbreviations in the Transaction data mean?

Acronym	Title	Description
DFL	Dispositionary First Lease	An application for the registration of a new lease granted by the proprietor of registered land.
DLG	Dealing	An application in respect of registered land. This includes transfers of title, charges and notices.
FR	First Registration	An application for a first registration of land both freehold and leasehold. For leasehold this applies when the landlord's title is not registered.
TP	Transfer of Part	An application to register the transfer of part of a registered title.
OS(W)	Search of Whole	An application to protect a transaction for value, such as purchase, lease or charge for the whole of a title.
OS(P)	Search of Part	An application to protect a transaction for value, such as purchase, lease or charge for part of a title.
OS(NPW)	Non-priority search of whole	An application to search the whole of the register without getting priority.
OS(NPP)	Non-priority search of part	An application to search a part of the register without getting priority.
OC1	Official Copy	An application to obtain an Official Copy of a register or title plan represents a true record of entries in the register and extent of the registered title at a specific date and time. The data includes historical editions of the register and title plan where they are kept by the registrar in electronic form.
OC2	Official Copy of a deed or document	An application to obtain a copy of a document referred to in the register or relates to an application. This includes correspondence, surveys, application forms and emails relating to applications that are pending, cancelled or completed.
SIM	Search of the Index Map	An application to find out whether or not land is registered and, if so, to obtain the title number.

Back to index

What is meant by searches and official copies referred to in Transaction data?

OS(W) - Search of whole with priority of a registered title to protect a transaction for value, such as purchase, lease or charge. The effect of the search with priority is to 'freeze' the title for 30 business days (priority period) to allow the applicant to lodge their application.
OS(P) - Search of part with priority of a registered title to protect a transaction for value, such as purchase, lease or charge of part of the title. The effect of the search with priority is to 'freeze' the part of the title searched for 30 business days (priority period) to allow the applicant to lodge their application.
OS(NPW) and OS(NPP) Non-priority searches may be made against either the whole or part of a registered title and allows a person who is not entitled to make, or require, a priority search, to search a register from a given date.
OC1 - An Official Copy of a register or title plan represents a true record of entries in the register and extent of the registered title at a specific date and time
OC2 - An official copy of a document referred to in the register or relates to an application. This includes correspondence, surveys, application forms and emails relating to applications that are pending, cancelled or completed.
SIM - a Search of the Index Map is used to find out whether or not land is registered and, if so, to obtain the title number.

Back to index

Where can I find transaction data from before December 2011?

Statistics covering transaction data before December 2011 can be found on the Transaction data webpage. This does not include data relating to searches and official copies, nor has a breakdown of data into regions and district.

Back to index

How do I report an issue with the Transaction data?

If you are unhappy about any aspect of the data or want to complain, you should contact our Departmental Records officer by email at DRO@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk.We expect that most problems can be resolved by our Departmental Records Officer.

If you are still unhappy at this stage, please ask the officer to pass on your concerns to one of our lawyers in Corporate Legal Services. The lawyer will review what has been said and let you know what they thinks can be done. If you are still unhappy, the matter can be referred to the Independent Complaints Reviewer to HM Land Registry.

Back to index