What is a local land charges search?
When a property or parcel of land is bought, leased, mortgaged or a valuation carried out, a request for a search is sent to the council in whose area the property lies.
This search is usually submitted on your behalf by your solicitor or licensed conveyance. It is an investigation into any information held by us relating to a specific property or parcel of land and is usually required by your lender (ie - your bank or building society) as a condition of securing a mortgage loan.
The Law Society, which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of official searches and considers that alternative personal searches of the statutory register, which disclose only limited information, should only be undertaken with the approval of the client when time does not permit official searches. You are advised to confirm with your solicitor that an official search has been undertaken and to inspect the Certificate of Official Search.
We carry out all official searches covered by the Local Land charges Act 1975, guaranteeing comprehensive replies to the official LLC1 and CON29 enquiries.
There are three parts:
Part one - LLC1 - the Official Certificate of Search Form, which deals with all the registerable charges, for example financial charges (registered against the property by the local authority), improvement grants, tree preservation orders, conditional planning consents and agreements.
Part two - CON29R - the Enquiries of Local Authorities Form deals with issues such as road schemes, the planning history of the property and various notices which affect the property.
Part three - CON29O - includes further (optional) enquiries.
Note: the LLC1 and CON29R form the standard search and the CON29O includes further optional enquiries that may be required.
How much does it cost?
Standard search (LLC1 and Con29R) - £68
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LLC1 - £18
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CON29R - £50
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Additional parcel LCC1 - £5
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Additional parcel CON29R - £15
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Additional enquiry - £20
Replies to a Con290
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Q4 - 21 when submitted with CON29R - £10 per enquiry
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Q22 - When submitted with CON29R - £20
- If not submitted with CON29R - an additional £10
Please note: We are not able to cancel searches once they have been received by us and entered into our computer system and refunds are not available. This is to ensure that we are able to continue to process all searches quickly to meet demand.
How to request a search?
There are full instructions on the Local Land Charge Search forms. Your solicitor will have these forms or you can buy them from law stationers.
Please note that applications must include the following when submitted in order to be accepted for processing:
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If submitted by a solicitor, cheques drawn on the solicitor's client account, made out with the correct amount and payable to Hertsmere Borough Council. Clients' own cheques are not accepted.
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A requisition for search form (LLC1) and enquiries forms (CON29R and CON29O if required) in duplicate and two copies of a plan. This must be sufficient to enable easy identification on an ordnance survey map.
They should be sent to our Land Charges Department at the address below, by DX45602 Borehamwood or by email: land.charges@hertsmere.gov.uk
You can also use the National Land Information Service (NLIS)
How long will it take?
We aim to return all official searches within five working days and in any case within 10 working days.
Personal searches
A personal search is an inspection of the Local Land Charges Register and can be carried out by anyone.
You can inspect the register at our main Civic Offices:
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Monday to Friday between 10am - 12pm and between 2pm - 4pm.
Information will be made available in our main reception area during those times.
It is the responsibility of the person carrying out the personal search to identify the land/property and to make notes of any information held on the register as we do not give any information in writing.
Please note:
An inspection of the Local Land Charges Register is free under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) but these regulations give you the right to inspect the base records only and do not entitle you to have the information verified or checked.
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the base information you are viewing may not be comprehensive and may contain errors.
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If you wish to inspect base records in respect of CON29R enquiries under EIR, you will need to contact the individual council department involved ie - building control, planning and environmental health. An appointment may be necessary and it cannot be guaranteed that the same appointment time will be possible for all departments.
For further help:
For drainage enquiries contact Thames Water
For highways enquiries contact Hertfordshire Highways
For land registry enquiries contact Land Registry