Which type of search?
When buying, leasing or re-mortgaging a property or piece of land, your solicitor will submit a local authority Con29 search which will show whether there are any legal restrictions affecting the land or property, which upon completion of the sale, will be binding and enforceable against you, the new owner.
We will investigate any restrictions and bring all the information together in the form of a local authority Con29 search. Some examples: planning history, if the roadway is maintained at public expense, prospective new road schemes or parking restrictions, a compulsory purchase order, whether the property falls within a contaminated or radon gas area.
Our searches are backed up by insurance which does not expire. We complete and return the majority of our searches within two working days.
Types of searches
LLC1 and Personal Searches
When a ‘charge’ is created against a property or piece of land, it's recorded on the Local Land Charges register. The term ‘charge’ is a generic term and relates to non-financial as well as financial matters. A LLC1 search will reveal any outstanding charges against property or land. It does not show all the information which might affect a property, the Con29 search will fill the gaps.
From 10th October 2023 the LLC1 search and Personal Search service is dealt with by HM Land Registry and can be accessed through GOV.UK, Business Gateway or HM Land Registry.
CON29 search
The CON29 shows matters which may be pending such as a tree preservation order, if the roadway is maintained at public expense, prospective new road schemes or parking restrictions, a compulsory purchase order, whether the property falls within a contaminated or radon gas area. The contents of the CON29 form is considered by many licensed conveyancers/solicitors to be one of the most comprehensive information documents used during the house buying process. All the information required to complete a CON29 is available from us. You can request all the questions or part of them.
Important note: Matters entered onto the Local Land Charges Register, will not be referred to (where relevant) in answer to the Con29 enquiries 3.1. to 3.15. We recommend you obtain a LLC1 search from HM Land Registry as the LLC1 and Con29 searches work together to give you a full picture.
CON29O search
CON29O is for optional extra information – a chance to ask more questions as set out in the form. The Con29O is submitted with the Con29R search to guarantee the set fees. If they are submitted separately to the Con29R this will incur an extra cost.
The Con29O consists of optional enquiries such as:
- Pipelines
- Noise abatement
- Food safety notices
- Hazardous substance consents
- Hedgerow notices
- Registered common land and town or village green
The CON29 forms are subject to the copyright of the Law Society.
Personal searches
This service is dealt with by HM Land Registry and can be accessed through GOV.UK, Business Gateway or HM Land Registry.
EIR requests
There is no charge for inspection of the records under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). For access to data under EIR, please see Con29 Inspection under EIR.
Land Ownership and Boundary Enquiries
We are unable to tell you who owns a piece of land or where the boundaries lie; for enquiries of this nature, you should contact HM Land Registry at Plymouth, see GOV.UK - Land Registry or more details can be found at the following link https://www.gov.uk/your-property-boundaries.