Local land charges

Information and guidance on what to do if you would like to check the local land register

What is a land search?

A Local Land Charge Search is a search of the Local Land Charge Register which provides information about any local matters that would affect a property.

The Local Land Charges Act 1975 was designed to ensure that prospective purchasers of land were informed of any obligations enforced by local authorities which may affect the property eg

the full planning history
plans to build new roads in the vicinity
if the highway fronting the property is public or privately maintained
if the area is designated a conservation area
tree preservation order
enforcement notices
housing grants

The full local authority search has two parts

The first part is called the LLC1

This deals with information from the Local Land Charges register which shows all the registered charges, ie

financial charges
improvements grants
tree preservation orders
planning agreements
enforcement notices
conditional planning consents
smoke control orders
buildings of special architectural and historic interest

The second part is the CON29R

This deals with supplementary information held by the Local Authority. The information is very comprehensive and provides essential answers about the property, such as:

is there going to be a major highway running through the property?
is the road in front of the property maintained at public expense or will you have to maintain it?
is there a contravention in relation to a building regulation affecting the property?

There are also optional enquiries (CON29O form) that we can reply to if you want more information, such as:

common land
public paths or byways

The Law Society, which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of an official search and considers that a personal search of the statutory register should only be undertaken when time does not permit an official search.

How do I get a search done?

Submitting a valid request

On submission, searches will be accepted for processing providing they include:

the full appropriate paperwork
the full correct address clearly quoted
an up-to-date accurate scale plan showing the extent and location of the subject of the search clearly edged in red
the correct fee

Applications must use the 2016 version of the Con29.

To make an application we will only require one copy of all documents (LLC1, Con29 and location plan) sent via the post or by email.

How do I submit a request for a search?

Searches can be submitted via paper or electronically through the National Land Information Service (NLIS).

This system is our preferred method of receiving search requests as it is much quicker and eliminates the need for post or DX. We have level 2 capability and are able to return searches electronically.

What is the NLIS?

National Land Information Service (NLIS) is a government initiative which carries the sole mandate of providing electronic official land and property information held by all Local Authorities in England and Wales, as well as other official sources of data, including HMLR, the Coal Authority and water companies.

The NLIS Hub acts as a gateway for conveyancers to access land and property information through one of the NLIS licensed channels. The NLIS Hub is regulated by Land Data.

Buying a search via an NLIS licensed channel

The NLIS have a number of channel providers should you wish to submit a Local Authority Search.

How long does it take?

We aim to return all standard official searches within 10 working days.

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