Local land charges search

For example it is to ensure that a purchaser of land is not caught out by the existence of obligations or ‘charges’ enforceable against successive owners.

The Council has a duty to maintain an up-to-date Local Land Charges Register and to provide an accurate response to search requests. This involves the section working closely with other sections within the Council.

Searches are submitted on standard forms:

The first form is called the LLC1 and is an application for an official search of the register i.e. it deals with all of the charges recorded in the Local Land Charges Register. It can include:

• details of financial charges registered against the property or land
• listed Buildings
• conservation Areas
• planning applications that have been approved with conditions

The Local Authority is under statutory duty to comply with a LLC1 application.

The second form is the CON29 (short for conveyance form 29), which has been formulated by the Law Society to ask questions on a variety of matters relating to the property or land. Both forms are submitted as part of a conveyance procedure, usually undertaken by a solicitor. The Council will only answer the standard questions unless you specify any other questions you would like answered. Optional questions are listed on the CON29O form.

Much of the information given by the local authority in reply to Form CON29 cannot be obtained from any other source, for example proposed road schemes within a certain distance of land or property. It is only by submitting an official Form CON29 that can you find out about any formal or informal notices affecting a specific property. The majority of this information is not available to a personal searcher. Form CON29 is a contractual document.

You should tell your solicitor before they submit the search about any additional questions you would like answered.

The responses to a search will only relate to the property or land named on the forms. If you need information about any neighbouring sites, for example details of any planning applications or permissions on neighbouring property or land, then you will need to raise a specific additional enquiry. You can ask if any additional roads or footways not mentioned in the address of the property are publicly maintained under the Highways Act. Ask your solicitor to identify the roads or footways by name or by colouring on a plan and enter the request in Box C of the Con29 form.

Commons Registration searches can also be carried out by us.

What information in required when submitting a search?

Local Authority Searches can be submitted via the postal system or electronically via NLIS or TM.

We want to be able to begin processing your search as soon as we can but sometimes incomplete documentation can delay us. So here are some tips and in some cases essential requirements:

• always send two completed LLC1, Con29 forms and Con29O forms if required
• always send two copies of a plan with the site to be searched outlined in red
• ensure you are including all optional and additional enquiries you require

If you wish to include other roads and footways etc. in Box C of the Con29 form, please identify them by name and enclose a plan. If the name is not known, provide a plan identifying them by colouring or hatching.

The fee received must be correct before a search can be returned. Remember to include the fee for any optional and additional enquiries. Cheques are to be made payable to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. If on receipt of a search we find the fee to be incorrect, we will contact you.

How long does it take to return a local authority standard search?

The government’s national target for returning standard searches is 10 working days or less. The majority of searches submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council are returned in a lot less time; much depends, of course, on the volume of searches received.

To ensure that we continually monitor our performance levels, we have also set local performance measurement targets for returning standard searches within 3 working days and 5 working days.

What is the local land charges register?

The Local Land Charges Register consists of twelve parts and details charges that ‘run with the land’. The Local Land Charges Team maintains the Register. The following are examples of the types of information or ‘charges’ that might be found on the Local Land Charges Register:

Financial Charges

Detailing amounts of money that are due to the Local Authority, usually these amounts have been incurred as a result of works carried out by the Council in default.

Planning Charges

• planning Applications:- What applications for planning permissions have been granted, refused or are now pending?
• conservation Areas:- These are areas which have been designated by the Authority as areas containing special architectural or historic interest. It is obviously desirable to preserve or enhance these areas
• tree Preservation Orders:- These orders are revealed so as to prevent the cutting, felling, loping or uprooting a single tree, or group of trees without the express permission of the Local Authority

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

IMPORTANT – CIL LIABILITY IS HELD AS A CHARGE ON LAND. IF CIL IS NOT PAID YOU MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY SELLING YOUR LAND OR PROPERTY

On the 31^st December 2014 Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule came into effect.

To find out more information about what development will be liable to CIL please visit our Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) pages.

If CIL is a requirement for an approved development this will be recorded on the Land Charges Register and disclosed to interested parties on receipt of an official search. This is the case for any enforcement action taken in respect to the CIL. 

Electronic Search Services

Solicitors may be able to submit searches electronically via the National Land Information Service (NLIS) or Tm Official Search Services. It allows people quicker and easier access to authoritative, accurate and comprehensive information on all land and property in England and Wales.

Current Channel Providers:

NLIS Search flow: 
0870 755 9940
http://www.searchflow.co.uk.

TM Official Search Services:

0844 249 9200

http://www.tmofficialsearchservices.co.uk

Infotrack

0207 186 9638

https://www.infotrack.co.uk/

What are the Local Land Charges Fees?

Local Authority Search Fees 2024/25

(including VAT where applicable)

As of 1^st April 2024