Data and methods

Where the data comes from

• HM Land Registry Price Paid Data: every sale since 1995. The new-build flag on first sales is how we find developments and every address on them.
• HM Land Registry company ownership data: which companies owned land on each estate while its homes were first sold. This is the main evidence for who built it.
• Companies House: whether that company is registered as a housebuilder, and whether it is still trading.
• EPC register: energy ratings, and construction details such as walls, roof, windows and heating.
• OS Open UPRN and OpenStreetMap: where each home is, and building outlines.
• Known issues: from public sources such as New Homes Ombudsman decisions, council records, building safety data and press, each with its source. Plus moderated resident reports.
• Resident reviews: written by people who live there, checked by a moderator before they appear.

Builder or developer

Land ownership shows who developed an estate. We say built by only when that company is a housebuilder: a known name, or registered at Companies House as building homes. Otherwise we show it as the developer and the builder as not yet known. See builder or developer?

How sure we are

High confidence means a registered housebuilder owned several plots on the estate while homes were first sold. Medium means one strong signal. Low means only a company name suggests a builder, so we say "possibly".

Build quality

Build quality on BuildingRecord will come from verified resident reviews. Until those open, the site shows who built each home, with the evidence, plus public facts such as energy certificates and sales.

Corrections and takedown

If something here is wrong, or you are a developer or resident with a concern about a review, contact us and we'll review it promptly.