Commercial Owners
Commercial Ownership
Commercial Ownership refers to land and property registered in England and Wales where the legal owner is not a private individual or charity, including overseas companies. This information is derived from the Land Register and offers valuable insights into the ownership of commercial properties and land.
The data is provided at the title level, with titles representing plots of land, freehold properties, or leaseholds over seven years (as per the Land Registration Act 2002). Some datasets, such as those processed by Doorda, further refine the information to the address level where applicable.
Key Details in Commercial Ownership Data
The dataset includes the following:
- Title Number: Unique identifier for cross-referencing with the Land Registry.
- Legal Owners: Names of the property owners, including companies and other entities.
- Price Paid: (Where available) Recent addition, not present for all titles.
- Purchase Date: May not always reflect the initial registration date due to administrative adjustments.
- Ownership Type: Freehold or leasehold (leases over seven years are included).
- Property Address: Where applicable, the property’s specific address.
- Shared Ownership: Details if a title is owned by multiple companies.
- Company Information: Includes company numbers linked to Companies House for UK-registered companies.
Ownership Categories
Ownership categories provide insights into the type of organisation owning the property, such as:
- Community Benefit Societies: Organisations reinvesting profits for community benefit.
- Housing Associations: Various forms, including co-operatives, registered societies, or corporate bodies.
- Local Authorities: Administrative bodies governing local areas.
- Co-operative Societies: Organisations run for the benefit of their members.
- Limited Companies and LLPs: Corporate bodies with distinct legal identities.
- Overseas Companies: Foreign-registered entities owning property in England and Wales.
- Community Interest Companies: Social enterprises using assets and profits for community benefit.
- Registered Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies: Entities operating under specific regulatory frameworks.
Applications of Commercial Ownership Data
This data is invaluable for:
- Social Housing Analysis: Identifying areas dominated by housing associations or social landlords.
- Property Market Research: Tracing ownership trends and property transactions.
- Conflict of Interest Checks: Investigating company property holdings for potential conflicts.
- Asset Tracing: Essential in legal cases and international disputes.
Legal Framework and Updates
- Land Registration Act 2002: Governs the registration of freeholds and leases over seven years.
- Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014: Defines the structure and regulations of societies.
- Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004: Regulates community interest companies.
- Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022: Enhances transparency in property ownership, particularly for overseas entities.
Useful Links for Further Reading
- Land Registration Act 2002 Key legislation governing property registration, essential for understanding the inclusion of leases and ownership rules.
- Companies House: Company Ownership and Filing Provides guidance on linking property ownership to company registration, enabling deeper insights into commercial property holdings.
For more detailed insights into company property ownership, explore our Business data product which provides extensive Company Data on all UK registered companies.