How can you find out the ownership history of a house if the Land Registry has no records?

[erebus]

It's an ex-council house, probably bought in the early 1980s.

It's currently tenanted so no I won't be marching up and hammering on the door!

There is no way, other than asking the tenants who they pay their rent to and taking it from there.

res if I might call you that!- yes, I think you're right. I know who they're paying rent to- that's part of the problem!

I need to ascertain whether 'due process' was followed in the passing of the property from hand to hand with various deaths etc.

There's no way of finding out. Although if a transfer has taken place inthe last few years then the property should be registered.
May be relevant - why do you want to know?