The Local Land Charges average turnaround time for local authority searches is five working days. We will endeavour to return 100% of searches within 10 working days. The turnaround time is calculated from the day that the search is accepted and entered on to the computer system.

Services Provided by the Local Land Charges Team

• Complete local authority searches LLC1, CON29R and CON29O
• Complete Commons and Village Green CON29O Question 22
• A courteous, cost effective, comprehensive, and quality service to our customers
• Continuously measure and aim to improve our performance in conjunction with our customers and those involved in the search process, to achieve a best value service

New Fees for Official Local Authority Search Requests

Swindon Borough Council have reviewed their fees for 2008 and in response to customer feedback and in the interest of best value, we are pleased to offer a reduction in the fee for an official local authority search for a residential property as from 7 April 2008.

To reflect the more comprehensive work involved on commercial premises, the official local authority search fee for a commercial property has increased as from 7 April 2008.

For full details of the new fees please see: Local Authority Seach Fees.

Payment

Please make your cheque payable to Swindon Borough Council.

Home Information Pack (HIP)

From 14 December 2007, a Home Information Pack (HIP) must be requested before a house can be marketed. A HIP is comprised of ‘Required’ and ‘Authorised’ documents and information. Replies to ‘local enquiries’ (CON29R) are ‘Required’ information. The text of these ‘local enquiries’ is prescribed by the Home Information Pack (No.2) Regulations 2007, Schedule 7, Part 2. Replies to CON 29O Optional enquiries of local authority (2007) are authorised for inclusion in a HIP.

Form CON 29R, which replaces form CON 29 Standard enquiries of local authority (2002), reflects the enquiries contained in the HIPs Regulations 2007. Page 1 of the form includes space in Box E for the person making the enquiry to enter the names of those who are involved in the sale. This will enable Local Authorities to make replies that comply with the Home Information Pack (No.2) Regulations 2007.

The names requested are those of the:

• Vendor
• Estate agent
• HIP provider
• Solicitor/conveyancer

The new form CON 29R should be used from 1 August 2007 whether or not enquiries of local authority are made for the purposes of including the replies in a Home Information Pack. However, it will only be appropriate for those making enquiries to complete Box E if they intend to include the replies in a Home Information Pack.

For information regarding the Home Information Packs please visit the Home Information Packs website (www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk).

Forms

Forms CON 29R and CON 29O are available under license from the Law Society in paper and electronic format, from legal stationers such as:

• Oyez Straker
• Laserform
• Peapod
• LexisNexis
• Shaw & Sons

Swindon Borough Council is fully accountable for the full, authenticated and guaranteed information supplied in response to Forms LLC1 and CON29 "Required" or "Optional" and will respond to any follow-up enquiry arising only from an official search.

Local Enquiries (CON29 "Required")

Swindon Borough Council is currently moving forward to operating in accordance with the 2008 “Personal searches of the Local Land Charges Register and other records held by Local Authorities”, good practice guidance for local authorities and personal searchers.

Information is accessible in respect of the unitary development plan, the planning applications and decisions register, the stop and enforcement register and information from the Adopted Street Register and Definitive Footpaths/Public Rights of Way.

Where information does not form part of a statutory register, public document or record, we are working towards making more of that information available as soon as is practical.

We await the outcomes of the work currently being undertaken into the three OFT options for a charging regime for access to/the provision of information that is currently being undertaken on behalf of Central Government in response to the December 2006 OFT report into the Property Searches Market.

How You Can Help Us

• By submitting two Ordnance Survey map extracts with all search requests and also please clearly outline in red, the property or land to be searched
• There are currently large areas of Swindon being developed, so for newly built homes, please identify the property clearly by outlining in red, on an extract of the development plan (two copies please)
• By checking that the search is within the area covered by Swindon Borough Council (please see: List of Places within the Borough of Swindon)

Copies of searches and documents held by Local Land Charges

There is an administration charge for copies; please contact us with your request and we will advise you of the relevant fee.

Online Searches

If you would like to submit a search online, please visit the National Land Information Service (NLIS) website (www.nlis.org.uk) or contact us directly to make arrangements for submission by e-mail. (Payment is to be made in advance.)

Personal Searches

• Due to a high demand, a 'first come, first served' appointment system is in place. Please telephone or e-mail Local Land Charges (please see below) for an appointment.
• The Local Land Charges Register is available for public inspection between 2.00pm and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday
• A statutory fee of £11.00 applies
• Per additional parcel of land or property - £1.00
• When you have made an appointment please clearly outline the property or land to be searched on an Ordnance Survey map extract or a development plan extract and fax it to 01793 466458
• All enquiries not related to the Local Land Charges Register must be directed to the relevant department
• Personal search information (please see: Personal Search of the Local Land Charges Register)

Further Information/Contact

Local Land Charges
Swindon Borough Council
Premier House
Station Road
Swindon
SN1 1TZ

DX 133055 Swindon 16

Tel: 01793 466244 or 01793 466246
E-mail: landcharges@swindon.gov.uk

Home Information Packs

For information regarding the Home Information Packs please visit the Home Information Packs website (www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk).

Drainage Searches

For drainage searches for the Swindon area, (CON29DW), please telephoneThames Water via TW Property Insight's Helpdesk on 0118 923 6656 or e-mail them at helpdesk@twsearches.co.uk.

Land Registry

Land Registry for the Swindon area is:

Weymouth District Land Registry
Melcombe Court
1 Cumberland Drive
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 9TT

Tel: 01305 363636