What is a local land charge search?
A local land charges search is undertaken as part of the
conveyancing process when a property or a piece of land is being
purchased, leased, valued or re-mortgaged.
The object of the search is to uncover any restrictions or legal
obligations against the site such as tree preservation orders,
conditional planning consents, conservation areas, listed
buildings, etc.
Home Information Packs
If you are intending to sell a property, you will need a
Home Information Pack (new window) (also known
as a HIP). A local land charges search is a compulsory part of a
Home Information Pack.
If you are involved in buying or selling homes, changes to Home
Information Packs, which came into force on 6 April 2009, have
important implications for the marketing of residential properties
for sale and the advice given to clients. For more information
about the changes see the briefing note issued by Government
below:
What does a local land charge search contain?
A 'standard' local authority land charges search usually
comprises of two elements submitted together - LLC1 and CON 29
'Required'. Both the LLC1 and CON 29 searches can also be submitted
separately. The fees for each type of submission are given
below.
LLC1 - Certificate of search of the local land charges
register.
This is a search of the Local Land
Charges Register entries held against the land or property
such as planning consents, grants, legal agreements, enforcement
notices, listed buildings and tree preservation orders and includes
an official certificate of search.
CON 29 - Enquiries of local authority.
This search raises 'Required' and 'Optional' enquiries regarding
the land or property. 'Required' enquiries include information
on nearby road schemes, planning and building decisions pending and
outstanding notices. Replies to 'Required' enquiries are
needed for the purposes of compiling a Home Information Pack.
Further information can be requested through 'Optional' enquiries
or specific additional enquiries.
Buy your search online
Suffolk Searches is an online shop for local land searches. Any
potential home-buyer, or anyone acting on their behalf, can visit
the Suffolk Searches website (new window) and order
a detailed electronic search from any Suffolk council.
The service offers an electronic search carried out by the
relevant council’s team who have the expertise and experience to
find all the necessary information regarding a particular
property.
Postal searches
Postal searches are the traditional way of requesting searches.
Requests must be submitted to us on forms LLC1 and CON 29 and
be accompanied by a site plan and a cheque for the appropriate
fee.
Search fees
The fees for postal and electronic searches are:
- For a 'standard' search (LLC1 and CON 29 'Required' submitted
together): £88.00.
- LLC1 certificate of search submitted separately:
£22.00.
- For a CON 29 'Required' search submitted separately:
£66.00.
- For each CON 29 'Optional' enquiry:
£12.00.
- For each additional enquiry: £15.00.
- For each additional parcel of land: £3.00 for
LLC1, £9.00 for CON 29, £12.00
for LLC1 & CON 29.
Before we can carry out a postal search for you we
require:
- Forms LLC1 and CON 29 in duplicate.
- The correct fee made payable to Suffolk Coastal District
Council.
- Two up-to-date Ordnance Survey plans with property outlined in
red.
The turn around time for completion of a basic local search is a
maximum of 3 working days from receipt.
Personal searches
An extract of the Local Land Charges Register can
be purchased electronically by using the Suffolk Searches
personal search request service (new
window). Other public information which you require can be
either viewed free of charge on our website (see
below) or in our main reception during normal office hours
(no appointment required).
If you prefer to visit our offices to obtain the Local Land
Charges Register and other public information please email
land.charges@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
to request an appointment. At least 24 hours notice and a suitable
site plan is required. Five searches only may be undertaken at any
one visit.
On arrival, please go to main reception or the planning helpdesk
to pay the prescribed £22.00 fee, a receipt will be issued along
with a unique password which will enable you to access the extract
of the Land Charges Register on our website.
Further details regarding access to information for local search
enquiries and fees are available below:
If you wish to request CON 29 'Required' information please
print off the form below and mark the questions you require answers
to. Please send the completed form to us by post at the address
below with the appropriate fee.
CON 29 'Required' information can be requested electronically by
using the
Suffolk Searches website (new window).
Online planning and building control information
You can use our online Graphical Information System (GIS) to search and
view some of the map based information held by the Council,
including planning history 1948 to the present day, the Suffolk
Coastal Local Plan, conservation areas, town and parish boundaries.
You can also view historical maps of parts of the district and
aerial photography from 1999 and 2007.
You can also view the planning history of land and property in
the Suffolk Coastal district since 1988 by searching the Council's
online planning register (new window). Just
enter an address or postcode into the 'Search by address' search
box.
The Council's current planning policies, contained in the
Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (new window), are
also available to view online.
You can do an online search of
Building Regulation applications (new window)
from 2005 onwards and view building control decision notices issued
from April 2008 onwards.
Local planning authorities across the country, including Suffolk
Coastal, are in the process of replacing their Local Plans with
Local Development Frameworks. Follow this link to find out about
the Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework.
Drainage enquiries
For drainage and water enquiries please contact
Geodesys Ltd
(new window) who are part of Anglian Water.
Commons and village green enquiries
An official search of the Registers of Commons and Village
Greens can be requested by completing question 22 on the CON 29
'Optional' form, and sending it to Suffolk County Council at
DX 87951 Ipswich (or Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1
2BX), together with the fee of £12.
Commons and village green enquiries can be submitted to Suffolk
Coastal with any other CON 29 'Optional' enquiries for a fee of
£12.
The Registers of Common Land and Town or Village Greens are
available for public inspection at
Suffolk County Council (new window) during
office hours with reasonable notice. Telephone 01473 264190 to
make an appointment.
If copies of the register entries are required, these can be
supplied for an administration fee to cover the cost of
photocopying. For details telephone 01473 264190 or email
land.charges@legal.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Who owns that property?
Local land charges do not keep records of
who owns property or land. If you want to know
who owns a property or piece of land you need to contact the Land
Registry, a government body who deal with the registration of
ownership.
Contact us
You can contact Suffolk Coastal's local land charges
section on 01394 444265 or 01394
444301 or email
land.charges@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
Our DX number is DX 41400 Woodbridge.
Our office hours are:
Monday to Thursday: 8.45am to 5.15pm.
Friday: 8.45am to 4.45pm.
Our address is:
Local Land Charges Section.
Suffolk Coastal District Council.
Melton Hill.
Woodbridge.
Suffolk IP12 1AU.
Estimated land charges costs for 2009/10
The following statement is issued in accordance with The Local
Authorities (England) (Charges for Property Searches) Regulations
2008 (SI 3248) Regulation 9.(1).