Land Data and CoPSO launch first local search summit

Land Data (formerly C-NLIS) and The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has launched the first ever Summit for the local search sector. The "Local Search Summit” will bring together personal search companies and local authorities to discuss ways of working together to improve the delivery of local searches to the consumer.

The summit, to be held in Birmingham on 20th May, will bring over 100 delegates together to:

- learn more about how the local search sector will be affected by the current property market downturn

- discuss ways to improve working relationships and how to alert the consumer to the importance of property searches

- understand the impact of the Land Registry's recent review and what action should be taken to improve the delivery of local searches- hear from HIP providers, what do they want in terms of standards, format, price and service

- hear about the frustrations and difficulties faced by both local authorities and personal search firms and new strategies and approaches for tackling the problems

- contribute ideas, support and commitment for future work towards a more effective property searches industry

Alex Fraser, CEO of Land Data said, "That over 100 people are participating in the Local Search summit shows the importance of launching this much needed debate.  Engaging with the widest possible range of stakeholders who have the potential to influence the sector to better manage property searches is the first step towards helping to make improvements.”

Participants at the summit will include representatives from Communities and Local Government, the Land Registry, leading property search organisations, local land charges departments and the legal profession.

CoPSO Chairman Fiona Hoyle comments: "This summit is important as it sees local authorities and personal search firms working side by side to deliver a more efficient home-buying process to the consumer.
"A lot has been written about local authorities and personal search firms competing against each other, but it is only by working together that we can develop a modern and productive service sector, which everyone connected with the industry wants to see."

Sponsors supporting the Summit include Severn Trent Searches and Groundsure.