As anyone who has ever bought a house or property will know, it is an important part of the conveyancing process to make a Local Authority Search. 

The Local Land Charges section is responsible for maintaining the Local Land Charges Register and providing the Council's Local Authority Searches. This consists of two forms:

• LLC1 (search of the register), and
• Con29 form (enquiries of local authority’s questionnaire)

Replies to the LLC1 form of the Local Search will reveal the existence of any 'charges' (e.g. any planning, environmental, financial or highway restrictions) made against the property. This is a statutory procedure. The charges are held in the Local Land Register, which we maintain.

Enquiries of Local Authority (Form CON29R)

Responses to the CON29R form will provide relevant building regulations, local plan, environmental health, planning and highways information affecting the property.

The form contains a list of questions prepared by the Law Society. The replies provide information which is useful when buying a property, for example:

• whether or not the highways adjoining the property are publicly maintained
• major road schemes close to the property and minor schemes abutting or affecting the property
• drainage to the property
• a list of planning decisions affecting the property
• contaminated land
• a list of building regulations affecting the property

Local Authority Searches

Local Authority Searches guarantee the replies to the LLC1 and the Con 29 enquires.

Our Service

Bath & North East Somerset Land Charges processed 3400 searches over the 2007/08 financial year.

We understand that speed is a crucial element when completing the local authority searches. Our current average turnaround time to complete a Local Authority Search is just 2 days.

We are aware with the introduction of Home Information Packs keeping costs down is a vital part of the conveyancing process.  Further to suggestions from our customers and effective changes within the land charges section we have been able to reduce the local authority search fee as of 1 April 2008.  The cost of a standard local authority search as of 1 April 2008 is £150.00 (LLC1 - £38.00, Con 29R - £112.00). 

We have recently carried out a survey on the land charges service.  We received a large number of comments about the good quality of the local authority searches as opposed to using other search suppliers.  We were pleased that our customers understood the importance of our staff having the experience and local knowledge that contributes to the quality and accuracy of the search.  Many respondents to the survey were unaware that only our search in the B&NES area provides building regulation information.

We are now receiving our searches from NLIS at Level 3 (receiving and returning electronically)

We have introduced a “Refresher Search” facility subject to the following conditions:

• A refresher search can only be requested within 9 months of the original search
• Any applicant can apply for the refresher search, providing we carried out the search in the Home Information Pack
• Please quote the original search number when the refresher search is submitted
• The extent of the property must be exactly the same as the previous property

The cost of the refresher search is £30.00

Email Search Facility

You are now able to send and receive your searches via email.  Simply send an email to Land_charges@bathnes.gov.uk, including the following information:

• Plan showing the extent of the property
• Provide details of the address of the property and let us know if you wish to raise any optional or additional questions
• Detail the amount that will be paid to us via cheque and confirm the cheque will be sent in that day's post

There is no need to send the LLC1 and Con29 forms.  You will receive your search results via email cutting out valuable postage time.  Our existing customers who use this facility are extremely happy with its speed and simplicity .