The Official Statutory Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
In England and Wales, HM Land Registry is the statutory executive agency responsible for recording property ownership and title guarantees under the Land Registration Act 2002.
Whenever a residential property changes hands for valuable consideration (money), the conveyancing solicitor is legally required to lodge the transfer deed (TR1 form) with the Land Registry.
Every completed purchase is subsequently released as public open data under the Open Government Licence (OGL), providing an unmanipulated statutory record of actual transactional values.
| Data Point | Recorded in Price Paid Data? | Source Document | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Sold Price | YES (Mandatory) | TR1 Transfer Deed | Exact statutory completion price paid |
| Transaction Date | YES (Mandatory) | Completion Date on Deed | Date funds transferred and sale finalized |
| Property Type | YES (Detached/Semi/Terrace/Flat) | Conveyancing Return | Physical property classification |
| Tenure (Freehold/Leasehold) | YES (Mandatory) | Title Register | Identifies legal land ownership status |
| New Build vs Existing | YES (Indicator flag) | Developer TR1 / First Registration | Distinguishes brand new from resale homes |
| Commercial / Mixed-Use Sales | NO (Excluded from open PPD) | Requires specific Title Register copy | Commercial transactions recorded separately |
| Transfers of Equity / Gifting | NO (Excluded from open PPD) | Transfer for no value | Inheritance and divorce transfers excluded |
How to Search Sold Prices Accurately (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Enter Your Postcode or Street Name: Use our free Property Price Checker to view full historical transactions for your street dating back to 1995.
Step 2: Inspect Historical Price Growth: Compare past sales of the target property across different property cycles (e.g. 2000, 2012, 2021) to calculate compound annual appreciation rates.
Step 3: Analyze Comparable Properties on the Same Street: Compare square footage, property type, and extension history against identical neighboring homes that sold recently.
Never rely on initial Rightmove or Zoopla marketing asking prices as indicators of value. Asking prices reflect speculative seller expectations, whereas Land Registry data reflects legally binding, bank-approved completion prices.
Checklist for Evaluating Sold Price Data Before Making an Offer
When researching comparable sold prices to prepare a realistic property offer, verify these factors: