About Local Land Charges

Buying a house can be one of the biggest purchases that anyone can make, so it is important a local authority search is carried out upon the property/parcel of land.

Having knowledge of the different types of search available will assist in enabling the prospective purchaser to make an informed choice. A local land charge is a restriction on a property or parcel of land.

The purpose of a search is to disclose to interested parties any restrictions or decisions that affect the property or parcel of land and ensure a prospective purchaser is not caught out by any obligations or charges enforceable against successive owners.

The Law Society, which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of official searches and considers the alternative to official searches should only be undertaken with the approval of the client when time does not permit an official search.

Members of the public are strongly advised to confirm with their solicitors that an official search has been undertaken and to inspect the official certificate of search (LLC1) and CON29 enquiries to ensure that they have been carried out to their satisfaction.

If you rely on a personal search from a Solicitor or a personal search company, you are reminded that they are not given answers to CON29 questions by the Local Land Charges Service and any information obtained in this manner is not covered by Section 10(3) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 which relates to compensation or loss.

For further information or assistance contact the Local Land Charges Team.


Fees applicable from 1 April 2010

The fees for the Local Land Charges Service are as follows:

• LLC1 Fee £22
• CON29R £104
• CON29O £20
• Extra parcel £25
  

The local authority does not provide LLC1 and CON29 application forms.

However, these can be obtained from:

Oyez Stationers, tel 0870 737 7370

Shaw and Sons Ltd, tel 01322 621100

On 13 April 2009 Land Charges relocated offices to Newham Dockside. We are unable to provide a counter service at the new building and searchers are required to continue to visit 1st Flr, Town Hall Annexe, 330-354 Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 2RT where payment of the Search fees will be taken and search information collected and/or obtained.