Searches
It is important to have a search carried out when buying a property as it is designed to protect prospective purchasers by providing information which may affect the property to be purchased:
- Plans to build a new road in the vicinity
- Whether the highway fronting the property is public or privately maintained
- To let them know about planning permissions/conditions, tree preservation orders, enforcement notices, or housing grants etc, which may affect the property to be purchased.
Each search involves research in respect of town planning, statutory orders, highways, housing and environmental health matters and is sent to the four separate Council service groupings for their action.
When the Land Charges officers receive the required information, the replies from the service groupings are collated and completed searches are usually returned to the applicant within 5 - 6 working days.
Optional Enquiries 4-21 of the Form CON29 (O) relate to matters such as road schemes, public footpaths, planning and environmental service matters. These enquiries are also dispatched to the relevant service groupings for their comments. The applicant's solicitor will be aware of this service.
Expedited searches
If a search is marked up as urgent, we do try to pull the Search out once it is completed and return it to the Solicitors as soon as possible
Our commitment to you
We aim to process searches within 10 working days.
Contact us
For further queries, please contact the Land Charges Section.
