Local councils maintain a large amount of data relating to properties in their area and searches of these records called 'Local Authority Searches'provide essential information for conveyancers.

What is contained in a Local Authority Search?
A basic local authority search comprises a LLC1 plus CON29R questions.
A search with extra questions comprises a LLC1 plus CON29R questions and all or some of the CON29O optional questions.

LLC1 - The Official Certificate of Search
This reveals the entries on the Land Charges Register. This would include (if applicable to the property):

• Tree preservation orders
• Listed buildings
• Conservation areas since 1974
• Smoke control areas
• Conditional planning permissions
• Financial charges registered against the property
• Enforcement notices

CON29R - The Enquiries of Local Authorities Form
This includes:

• Planning history
• Building control regulations
• Highway information (including road schemes)
• Proposed tree preservation orders
• Proposed enforcement or breach of condition notices

Many of these replies are not to be found on Statutory Public Registers.

CON290 - The Optional Enquiries of Local Authorities Form
This includes:

• Public footpaths and byways
• Gas pipelines
• Common land enquiries

A personal search comprises an inspection by anyone of the Public Register held by the Council, which includes the Land Charge Register maintained by the Council for a specific property. A fee set by Central Government is payable at the time of making the search.

A personal search may not provide all the information available had a CON29R or a CON29O search been made.