Local land charges - personal search
How we provide this service
Personal Search companies are available as an alternative way of getting the information required to make up a local search.
This information is supported by Planning and Development, Planning.
Various companies have been set up in the area, as we are not able to promote any one company over another, please check the local phone directories for there contact details.
a Personal Search Company will book an appointment with the local authority to search the register which holds the infomation you need to know when you are buying a house.
When you are buying a house it is important to check with your solicitor as to who exactly is doing your Local Search, a personal search company or the Local Authority.
Please follow the link for more information on the Local Authority Land Charges Service.
Fax: 01775 710772
Email: landcharges@sholland.gov.uk
Opening Times: You can contact the Council to book an appointment between 8.30 - 5.15 Monday to Thursday and 8.30 - 4.45 on Friday. Please ask for Customer Services.
Appointments for Personal Searches are only available between 9.00 - 9.30 a.m. and 2.00 - 2.30 p.m. daily
What to do to get this service
You will need to make an appointment and send us a plan of the land or property that you would like the search done on. We need to receive your plan at least 24 hours before your appointment. Please contact Local Land Charges on 01775 764535 to book an appointment.
Who can apply?
Any member of the public can inspect the Land Charges Register but it is usually done by either us after a solicitor requests it on your behalf or a company specialising in personal searches.
How much will it cost?
Anyone can conduct their own search and we charge a total of £11.00 to conduct the initial research and £1.50 per copy of each entry in the Land Charges Register.
How long will I have to wait for a response?
24 hours notice required
Contact Name for this service
Land Charges Section
Telephone number for this service
01775 764420
What do I need to provide?
A plan clearly showing the boundary of the land or property to be searched on must be supplied in advance.
Common Questions
Q. What is the difference between a Personal Search and an Official one?
A. An official search is usually requested by a solicitor acting on your behalf. It will be certified by the Council and the Local Land Charges Act 1975 makes provision for compensation should anything go wrong. An official search will answer questions relating to Environmental Health, Building Control, Highways, Planning and Land Charges. If a personal search is carried out these will need to be done separately and not all of the information is currently available to personal searchers. The CON 29 form supplied with an official search can only be completed by trained staff who have access to the information required. Some of the information includes approved schemes that have not yet been implemented for example highway schemes. A personal search can be conducted by any member of the public, or by a Personal Search company, acting on their behalf, by visiting the Council's Offices. An appointment must be made at least 24 hours in advance. A search may be made of the Land Charges Register but it will not include CON 29 information nor will it be certified.
Q. What does a personal search cost?
A. £11.00 plus £1.50 for each copy of any entry in the Register.
Q. Do you need an appointment to conduct a personal search?
A. Yes. We try to be as flexible as possible with our appointments but due to demands on our own staff time we try to keep them to between 9.00 and 10.00 in the morning and 2.00 to 3.00 in the afternoon. 24 hours notice is required.
Q. Do I need to provide a plan of the property?
A. Yes. A plan of the property with the boundary clearly marked must be provided 24 hours in advance of the appointment.
Q. Can anyone carry out a personal search?
A. Yes but an appointment must be made.
Printed leaflets available providing more information
None
How do you rate this information / service?
Contact Details
If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.
