About Local Searches
What is a Local Search?
A Local Search is part of the legal process to transfer the ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. Most people opt to hire a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to do this, but searches can also be carried out by individuals or personal search companies.
The majority of mortgage lenders insist on an official local search being carried out which is in two parts.
The official local search comprises of two parts:
LLC1 – Part one is the official Local Land Charges Certificate which is a record of all the local land charges registered against the property. The register contains:
- outstanding liabilities for road and other financial charges;
- tree preservation orders;
- conditional planning consents and agreements;
- notices relating to the making of a compulsory purchase order, to name but a few.
CON29 – Part two is the Enquiries of Local Authorities Form which asks a series of questions which provide information relating to the property such as:
- road schemes;
- the planning history;
- proposed yellow lines or road calming measures;
- tree preservation orders to be made;
- various notices which affect the property.
Find out more…
How do I perform the local search?
- Application and card payments can be made online by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the page;
- E-mails can be sent to Bolton Council’s Spatial Data Group direct with the details of the type of search required, along with the address and a plan showing the boundaries of the property in red. Within the e-mail you must state your willingness to pay and state that a cheque will be forwarded (see service costs table).You can also contact us by using NLIS (National Land Information Service) which is an electronic hub. This also offers a secure portal and payment mechanism;
- Your solicitor or conveyancer can request searches on your behalf;
- You may choose to select a personal search company to do the search for you.
The Local Authority is the sole provider of Official Local Searches (LLC1 search of the Local Land Charges Register + the CON29R – Enquiries of the Local Authority). Any information given is guaranteed by Section 10(3) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 and compensation for inaccuracies is guaranteed for 7 years (any other provider of searches other than the Local Authority does not have this guarantee).
How much does the service cost?
On 21st February 2012, The Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing and Skills approved keeping the charges at the same level as 2011/2012 for 2012/2013.
Charges for the year commencing 1st April 2012 are as follows subject to any change in VAT status: (fees were approved by Executive Member for Development on 22 February 2011)
| Service |
Cost
|
| LLC1 (search of Land Charges register only) |
£23.00 |
| CON29R |
£107.00 |
| CON29O |
£15.00 (each question) |
| Additional Questions |
£25.00 ( each question) |
| Personal Search |
No Charge |
| Individual sub questions |
CON29R £4.00 |
| Additional Parcels of Land (adjoining) for LLC1 |
£1.00 each |
| Additional parcels of land (adjoining) for CON29 |
£9.00 each |
View the charges and access arrangements for each question
How to make payment?
- Card payments can be made online by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the page or by calling 01204 331137;
- Only client account cheques are accepted;
- Payment by cash or cheque is accepted in the One Stop Shop on the ground floor of the Town Hall
Please post to Spatial Data, 5th Floor, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU
When can I expect a response?
Bolton Council aims to return results on the same working day if submitted before 3pm or next working day if submitted after 3pm.
Searches can be returned by:
- Email;
- Post;
- Electronically by National Land Information Service.
Searches via the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
The NLIS is a joint initiative between Central and Local Government to provide land and property related information electronically. It also includes other organisations e.g. the Land Registry, the Coal Authority and the Water Authority.
Benefits:
- Secure and fast response times;
- Online handling of refunds and cancellations;
- Streamlined billing and reconciliation;
- Preserved data provider statutory indemnities;
- Regulated search environment;
- Provide you with a full audit trail and workflow records.
Personal Searches
From 27th September 2010 Bolton are introducing a self service option for Personal Searches. No appointments are necessary. The Local Land Charges register will be open for inspection at the One Stop shop reception. A procedure note will be available.
- The One Stop Shop is open from 8.00am until 6.00pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 9.00am until 1.00pm (Monday is the busiest day);
- The Register can be inspected and will allow the Personal Searcher to make notes only - editing records or printing will not be possible;
- If the customer requires a collated report, the fee for an Official Search is £23. This will be completed by Development Officers (Spatial Data) contactable on 01204 331137 or by e-mail at spatialdatagroup@bolton.gov.uk
Personal searches are not covered by Section 10(3) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975, which relates to compensation for loss.
Access to other property information
- Access to CONR and CON29Oinformation is available on My Bolton for self service, full access arrangements please refer to Bolton Council Schedule of Information for Property Searches on the link on the right hand side of the page;
- The online Planning service allows you to view associated plans and documents for an application;
- Building Control information is available; please see our Building Control pages.
- The register of Highways maintainable at public expense is available on our Highways status register page;
- Water Search - see United Utilities link on right hand side of the page;
- Coal Mining Search - see right hand side of the page.