Local Land Charges

Application for a Search
Both the LLC1 and CON29 forms should be submitted at the same time if answers to both are required. Please note that when submitting your request the following must be included:-

The LLC1 and CON29 forms, must be in duplicate, if you require answers to both;
The correct fee - this Authority does not accept personal cheques. All cheques should be made payable to the Spelthorne Borough Council and cannot be post dated;
A clear address indicating the property being searched;
A scale plan, in duplicate, outlining the property in red.

How much does it cost?
(Fees relate to private and commercial properties)

Whole Search	Up to 5 working days	£187.00
Additional Parcel	Up to 5 working days	£15.40
Each Part II Printed Enquiry	Up to 5 working days	£15.00
Con 29 'O' optional enquiry	Up to 5 working days	£20.00
Personal Search Service	By appointment only	£11.00
Copies of documents	Up to 10 working days
	Planning Permissions	£9.00 each
	Agreements	£2.90 plus 0.75p for each following sheet
	Copy of Duplication Search	£7.20
Replies to written enquiries	Up to 10 working days

Local Land Charges
DX 98044 - STAINES-2

Our Aim
As you have to pay to make a local Search if you buy a property, we feel you are entitled to receive a quick and efficient service at a known cost.
So that you know what to expect we have clear standards, which we will meet, when you request our services. These are set out below and show the timescale from receipt of your request to our reply.

Personal Searches
The Council is experiencing a rise in the number of personal searches, despite the speedy turnaround time for official searches. Because of this, it will be necessary to ask that you provide the Council with 24 hours notice prior to making the appointment. This is to ensure that requests are treated fairly and quickly.

What are Local Authority Searches?
Whenever you buy a property in Spelthorne you need to make a search, which is sent to the Local Authority, normally via a solicitor acting on your behalf. This is to ensure that you are aware of any local matters affecting the property you are buying so that there are no hidden surprises .

The search will form two parts

The first part is called the LLC1, this deals with information from the Local Land Charges register which deals with all the registerable charges, i.e. financial charges, improvement grants, tree preservation orders, Planning Agreements and Enforcement Notices, Conditional Planning Consents, Smoke Control Orders and Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest.
The second part is the CON29R, this deals with supplementary information held by the Local Authority. The information is very comprehensive and provides essential answers about the property, such as;

               - there going to be a major highway running through the property?
               - the road in front of the property maintained at public expense or will you have
               to maintain it?
               - there a contravention in relation to a building Regulation affecting the property?

In fact there are fifty-seven replies to standard questions given in the CON29R. There are also optional enquiries (CON29O form) that we can reply to if you want more information.

The Law Society, which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of official searches and considers that alternative personal searches of the statutory register, disclosing only limited information, should only be undertaken with the approval of the client when time does not permit official searches. You are advised to confirm with your solicitor that an official search has been undertaken and to inspect the Certificate of Official Search. You will be able to recognise an official search of this local authority as it will carry the official Spelthorne logo and be signed by an official signatory of the Council’s Legal Services.

Who deals with Commons Registration Searches?
This question is now part of the CON290 form sent to us initially and answered by Surrey County Council.

Complaints and Suggestions
If you use the Local Land charges services and have any problem or complaint, please let us know so we can try to put things right. Knowing when something goes wrong helps us to improve our service by making sure it cannot happen again. Forms you can use to make a suggestion / complaint are available from the Main Reception at the Council Offices in Knowle Green or via our web site Suggestion / Complaints Procedures. We have for some years actively consulted our customers about our standards and quality of service through our annual customer satisfaction survey. We encourage constructive criticism and take on board, wherever possible, our customers wishes.

Should you have any queries relating to the above, please contact Customer Services on 01784 451499, e-mail customer.services@spelthorne.gov.uk

Where is the Local Land Charge Section?
The Local Land Charges Section is within the Council’s Corporate Governance.

Contact details:

Local Land Charges
Council Offices
Knowle Green
Staines
TW18 1XB

Tel:	01784 446483/5
Fax:	01784 463356
E-mail:	land.charges@spelthorne.gov.uk

The offices are open 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pmon Friday.

Who deals with drainage enquiries?
Thames Water Utilities looks after the network of public sewers in Spelthorne. A separate Search must be sent to them. Contact details are as follows:-
Thames Water Utilities
PO Box 3189
Slough
SL1 4WW

DX 151280 SLOUGH 13

Website: www.twsearches.co.uk
Residential conveyancing tel: 0118 923 6656
Commercial conveyancing tel: 0118 923 6652
Fax: 0118 923 6657