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)
Form LLC1
Replies to the LLC1 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.
Form CON29R (Enquiries of Local Authority)
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
The searches are completed by fully trained and experienced staff. The official search is certified by the Council. Local Authority searches are covered by insurance as standard which covers owners against any financial loss as a direct result of inaccurate or omitted information.
Easy ways to apply
You can apply for a local authority search via post/DX, National Land Information Service (NLIS), TM Search Choice or email.
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 .
Post or DX:
Simply post or DX your LLC1 and CON29 forms to:
Land Charges, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG
DX 8047 BATH
Searches returned electronically
We can accept and return searches via the internet through National Land Information Service (NLIS). NLIS currently has two licensed channels: Searchflow and Thames Water Property Insight. For further information please click on the link to the NLIS website on the right of this page which also provides links to the two channels.
We also receive searches from TM Search Choice, for further information please click on the link to their website on the right of this page.