What are conveyancing searches

Conveyancing searches are enquiries made to a variety of different authorities which will provide you with information about the property you’re hoping to buy. These searches are a vital part of the conveyancing process.

Once an offer has been accepted, a conveyancer will organise a number of searches, the three main ones being: Local Searches, Environmental Searches and Drainage and Water Searches. Depending on the location of the property, or the mortgage lender, additional searches may also be required. In addition, title searches will need to be carried out to prove that the seller is the legal owner of the house.

Local Searches are vital in finding key pieces of information that could be the deciding factor on whether a property purchase proceeds. The searches will highlight anything in the local area that will affect someone living there.

The Local Searches that the conveyancer will order are made up of two parts:

1. Local Land Charges Register Search (LLC1)

The first part of the Local Search is the Search of the Local Land Charges Register.

This will include the following:

  • Whether the property is a Listed Building
  • Whether the property is located within a Conservation Area
    or Tree Preservation Area.
  • Whether the property is within in a Smoke Control Area
  • Details of conditional planning permissions approved for the property

2. Enquiries of the Local Authority (CON29)

The second part of the Local Search is the enquiries of the Local Authority (CON29).

This will include information about:

  • The planning history of the property
  • The building control history of the property
  • The adoption status of any roads abutting the property
  • Whether there are any road or traffic schemes planned within 200M of the property.
  • Whether there are any Public Rights of Way crossing or abutting the property

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