Search Information

Land Charges Property Searches form part of the conveyancing process when re-mortgaging or buying/selling a property. Every time a property or plot of land is purchased, leased or a valuation carried out, a search is made of the Local Land Charges Register to the local land charge department.

A Local Land Charges Search (Local Authority Search) is your assurance that there are no outstanding issues that may affect your land or property or your subsequent use of that land or property. 

Searches are usually made on your behalf by your solicitor. The search will reveal information that the council holds on that particular property or plot of land. 

Examples of information given in the search include:

  • Planning history 
  • Building Regulations 
  • Conservation areas 
  • Listed building status 
  • Tree preservation orders 
  • Enforcement Notices.
  • Highways Information – please note this link is for Leicestershire County Council enquiries only. For properties within the city of Leicester, highways information will be provided by Leicester City Council Local Land Charges team.

What Is the Local Land Charges Register (Llc1) and Why Is It Important?

A Local Land Charge is a restriction, prohibition or financial charge imposed on land or property, which is binding on successive owners or occupiers of land and/or property.  Every Council has a statutory duty under the Local Land Charges Act 1975 to maintain an accurate and up-to-date Register of Local Land Charges affecting land and property in the District.

Details of any charges that are registered to land and property are listed in the Council’s Local Land Charges Register. The local land charges register allows potential purchasers of land to be aware of any charges that may affect the property or piece of land they are interested in before they purchase it.

What Is an Enquiry of the Local Land Charges Register (Con29r/O)?

The Local Search is the name given to a number of enquiries that are made of a local authority during the conveyancing process. The enquiries reveal matters that are not contained in the Land Charges Register. For instance, planning decisions or conservation areas implemented before 31st August 1977, planning permissions without conditions and proposed enforcement notices yet to be issued which do not appear on the Local Land Charges Register.

Traditionally the local search was a part of the conveyancing process conducted by Solicitors who would ask questions directly of the relevant local authority. This led to the Law Society producing a set of standard forms known as the CON29R and CON29O.

The CON29R (R stands for required) asks all the standard questions which are common for potential house buyers to wish to know. 

There is a second form CON29O (the O stands for optional) which allows a purchaser or their solicitor to ask a number of further questions if they feel extra information is needed.