Search Fees from 1st April 2011

The Charge for Property Searches Regulations 2008 made provision for improved access to data held by the local authority.  The regulations allow for a recovery charge to be made to any private individual or company making a request to access data.

Having knowledge of the different types of search available will assist in enabling the prospective purchaser to make an informed choice.  A local land charge is a restriction on a property or parcel of land.  The purpose of a search is to disclose to interested parties any restrictions or decisions that affect the property or parcel of land and ensure a prospective purchaser is not caught out by any obligations or charges enforceable against successive owners.

The Law Society, which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of official searches and considers the alternative to official searches should only be undertaken with the approval of the client when time does not permit an official search.  Members of the public are strongly advised to confirm with their solicitors that an official search has been undertaken and to inspect the official certificate of search (LLC1) and CON29 enquiries to ensure that they have been carried out to their satisfaction.

If you rely on a personal search from a Solicitor or a personal search company, you are reminded that they are not given answers to CON29 questions by the local land charges service and any information obtained in this manner is not covered by Section 10(3) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 which relates to compensation or loss.