Local authority search

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If you are buying a house or land, it is an extremely important part of the conveyancing process to conduct a Local Authority Search.

A Local Authority Search can consist of the following:

• The LLC1 - official certificate of search: and
• CON 29R - Enquiries of Local Authority
• CON 29O - Optional Enquiries

The LLC1 - certificate search - is produced from the Land Charges Register.
This register is a statutory register which is maintained by all local authorities throughout England & Wales. the register consists of 12 parts which are as follows:

• Part 1      General financial charges
• Part 2      Specific financial charges
• Part 3      Planning Charges
• Part 4      Miscellaneous charges
• Part 5      Fenland ways maintenance charges
• Part 6      Land compensation charges
• Part 7      New towns charges
• Part 8      Civil aviation charges
• Part 9      Opencast mining charges
• Part 10    Listed building charges
• Part 11    Light obstruction notices
• Part 12    Drainage scheme charges

The purpose of these charges ensures prospective purchasers of property/land are not caught unaware of obligations enforceable against successive owners by the Local Authority.

The CON29R - enquiries of local authority - is a provision for prospective purchasers of property/land to find out about pending issues on the property/land other than that shown in the LLC1 - official certificate search. The CON29R is an important factor in establishing amongst other things: the status of highways, road improvement schemes, planning proposals, pending conservation areas, building regulations, enforcement and contaminated land.

The CON29O allows prospective purchasers of property/land to request additional enquiries; in particular the route of a public footpath, bridleway or byway and environmental and pollution notices.

Your solicitors will have these forms or you can buy them from a law stationers.

A personal search of the Local Land Charges Register may be undertaken. Please refer to the Personal Search policies and procedures.

Last updated: 18 August 2011