Personal Searches
What is a Personal Search?
A personal search is an alternative method of producing standard searches as opposed to requesting an official full search directly from the local authority. A personal searcher (can be an individual or a representative of a personal search company) will manually inspect the records provided by local authorities to provide the necessary information for the purposes of the requisition. Local authorities are required to make information available that is required to complete the necessary components of a CON29 enquiry.
CLG Good Practice Guidance
Leicestershire County Council recognizes the need to comply with the Good Practice Guidance released by the department of Communities and Local Government. The guidance was produced in response to a study by the Office of Fair Trading in 2005 which concluded that the access to information held by local authorities was limited and this would hinder private sector companies in compiling property searches.
In order to comply with the guidance, Leicestershire County Council has produced an 'information note' that contains all of the necessary details required for private sector companies and individuals to be able to answer the Local Enquiries required for a search.
The information contained within this note can also be found in more detail on this web site.
Access to Information
Local Land Charges Register
The results of a search of the Local Land Charges register is a required component of a full search. As such, any search providers will be required to inspect the Local Land Charges register in order to fulfil this requirement. The registers are held at the local planning authorities and can often only be viewed by booking an appointment. For more information, please contact the relevant district or borough council.
Enquiries of Local Authorities
To comply with the CLG's Good Practice Guidance, Leicestershire County Council provides the means for private search companies to answer all of the enquiries that appear on the CON29R and CON29O forms where the County Council is the authority for the enquiry. This is achieved in two ways:
- Providing access to all of the registers that are open for public inspection:
- Public Registers - access details for the registers open to public inspection
- Providing access to all other information that is required to answer the CON29R and CON29O forms.
- Local Search Enquiry - forms, procedures and fees for requesting responses to the local enquiries that are answered by Leicestershire County Council
- CON29 Enquiries - details of how to access information for each enquiry question-by-question
Page Last Updated: 31 August 2011
