Each local authority, by statute, is required to maintain a register of Local Land Charges, which contains a variety of agreements, notices and orders affecting land and properties, and which are of importance to prospective purchasers.
The Local Land Charges team at Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council exist to maintain the register, and also to conduct searches of that register for solicitors acting for possible buyers.
A full LLC search will also provide information on such matters as nearest highways, planning histories, environmental health, traffic schemes and housing. We are currently processing around 300 searches per month.
The service is in the process of being automated, and a computerised system called Total Land Charges (TLC) has been installed. Currently, data which has been captured and scanned is being loaded into the system, and it is hoped that the turn-round time for processing searches can be reduced still further from its current level of 3 to 7 working days.
We usually receive full LLC searches, comprising of the Official Certificate of Search (form LLC1) and the Form of Standard Enquiries (form CON.29(R)), from solicitors (see Types of Search). However, solicitors are now able to send and receive searches on line via the National Land Information Service (NLIS) directly into the TLC system, thus saving at least two days in the postal system.
This authority achieved Level 3 NLIS status last year, and we are now receiving around 35% of our full searches electronically. We hope this figure will continue to rise as more and more solicitors upgrade from paper to electronic search delivery.
An electronic system for linking this authority with Hampshire County Council is being investigated which will automate their responses to the highway enquiries on searches, which again should result in a significant reduction in turn-round time.
We also carry out personal searches of the LLC Register (see Types of Search). The service we provide to private search companies is considered by most to be well above the average, with LLC staff investigating, preparing and providing the available information sought by personal search agents prior to their visit to the offices. For this reason, we do require at least 48 hours notice to provide a personal search.
Should you have any queries (first please see Frequently Asked Questions) or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact;
David Allaway, Local Land Charges Team Leader on the telephone (01256) 845356, fax (01256) 841945 or e-mail david.allaway@basingstoke.gov.uk
Telephone: 01256 845356
Fax: 01256 841945
DX: 3008 Basingstoke