Local Land Charges

About Local Land Charges

We are required by law to keep a register of all restrictions or prohibitions on houses or land that may secure the payment of a sum of money or to limit the use (in the widest sense) to which the property or land may be put.

Each record is called a 'Local Land Charge'.
Charges can be imposed by councils and government bodies.
Charges are binding on successive owners of the house or land.

Local Authority Search

Searches can be required for several reasons but the most common reason is when purchasing a property or land. They are carried out to make sure potential purchasers are aware of any restrictions or obligations on them by purchasing the property. They also provide the history of the property for planning applications and building regulations together with road information and potential road schemes that may influence your decision to buy.

Requests for a search usually come from solicitors acting for their clients but we also want to help you understand our part of the house buying process; what a local authority search contains and most importantly, what options are available to you.