Title Registration: From Record to Resource

Since public access to the register of land titles was introduced under the Land Registration Act 1988, title registration has undertaken a transformation. The opening of the register provided for a transformation to arise, changing title registration from a record of land holding into a data resource of significant economic value. As a consequence of processes of commodification, that utilise the new wealth and property found in and on title data, it is argued that a practical and conceptual transformation has arisen.

This study will examine the commodification of data and of risk that has arisen in response to the exploitation and manipulation of title data initiated by the Land Registry. The case studies in this thesis will explore the use of data derived from the register, and its integration within associated business models outside of the Registry to create revenue streams and to exploit the new property found in and on data. The thesis will explore and evidence multiple processes of the commodification of data and of risk that change conveyancing and marketing practices. Examples of the commodification of title data will be explored through an analysis of: the publication of 'Price Paid' data, the use of the title register and title data by the real estate sector and the emergence of property title fraud. This research will also explore the sale of insurance that focus on related 'risk' for chancel repair liability and property title fraud; illustrating further the transformation of title registration from record into data.