Genealogy Chat

I often see Zoopla recommended to people seeking help with their research, particularly on the Find Living Relatives board. I agree that it is a handy tool and have used it myself but I wonder if a recommendation ought to come with a caveat, particularly for newbies. It is not foolproof. It doesn't mean a house hasn't been sold if it doesn't appear on Zoopla. I know of at least 3 houses, including my own sold in 2013 which are not shown on Zoopla.

It's just a thought for the kind helpers on these boards to consider.

Good point. But is anything fool proof? ;-)

Obviously Zoopla records only info to which it has access

You know that ErikaH, and I know that, but an inexperienced newbie may not think like that. If a helper who has already found a lot of information for someone says something like Zoopla shows the house hasn't been sold since......, that someone may just take that as the gospel truth, rather than a possibility.

I am not being critical and it's probably not that important a point anyway; it's just something that struck me reading through some threads.

Point taken.

Also a house may have been sold recently, but the site not yet updated.

A very valid point Vera, definitely worth bearing in mind.

I, myself, have never dealt with Zoopla so when I see that a house has not been sold since whenever, I tend to believe it. I will certainly not take it as gospel anymore, thank you.

Surely no sensible person takes anything as ‘gospel’ without verification?

That’s put some people in their place. ;-)

oops :-S :-(

Alviegal - I wasn’t finger pointing.

no I know you weren't :-)

Rightmove do it as well and according to their website the information is taken from the Land Registries of England and Scotland.

They go back to 2000 and both the house we are in now and the one we sold are listed and neither is on Zoopla.

For what it's worth -

Zoopla says,
"We get our sold house price data from HM Land Registry/Registers of Scotland. It can take up to 3 months for it to appear here."