Guide to Local Authority Searches and Costs

  Search fees
The standard search fee charged by Surrey Heath Borough Council for a Certificate of Search (LLCI form) and Local Authority enquiries (Con 29 form) relating to one parcel (a dwelling or piece of land) is as follows:

From 1st April 2012 Residential and Commercial below

Surrey Heath Borough Council Local Search fees Charges remain the same for 2012	Residential 1 April 2012	Commercial 1 April 2012
LLCI only Download the LLC1File Type: Adobe PDF document, File Size:288.40 Kb (42 seconds @ 56K) Opens in a new window Please Note:Remember to send in your plans with the application by post) or You can email the LLC1 once completed including your scanned plans to: landcharges@surreyheath.gov.uk	£37.40	£37.40
Additional Parcel	£6.25	£6.25
Basic Search LLC1 + CON29 Residential Download the LLC1 FormFile Type: Adobe PDF document, File Size:288.40 Kb (42 seconds @ 56K) Opens in a new window Land Charges - CON29 RFile Type: Adobe PDF document, File Size:480.14 Kb (70 seconds @ 56K) Opens in a new window	£171.50	£208.00
Additional Parcel (LLC + CON29R)	£16.65	£16.65
CON29O Optional Enquiry (If submitted at the same time as a basic search). Land Charges - CON29 - OptionalFile Type: Adobe PDF document, File Size:550.14 Kb (80 seconds @ 56K) Opens in a new window	£15.60	£15.60
CON29O Optional Enquiry (If not submitted at the same time as a basic search).	£31.20	£31.20
Additional Enquiry Own Words (If submitted at the same time as a basic search).**See note below	£20.80	£20.80
Additional Enquiry Own Words (If not submitted at the same time as a basic search).**See note below	£41.60	£41.60

**Please note that Highway related additional enquiries should be sent directly to Surrey County Council who charge according to their own fee scales.

Online payments

• Pay online for your search

Refresher Search £31.20 (with the following conditions)

1. Residential properties only.
2. Same applicant as original basic search.
3. Same area as original basic search.
4. Within six months of the original basic search.

NLIS Channel Provider Contact Details:

Searchflow
Tel: 0870 7877625
helpdesk@searchflow.co.uk
www.searchflow.co.uk Opens in a new window

Thames Water Property Insight
Tel: 0118 9251 504
www.twpropertyinsight.co.uk Opens in a new window

Other Providers of Electronic Searches

TM Property Service
Tel: 0844 249 9200
helpdesk@tmgroup.co.uk

Submission of Search
Please note that search applications must include the following when submitted to be accepted for processing:

• A correct and clear address to be searched against.
• Three copies of an up to date site plan showing the boundaries of the property or land to be searched against, clearly hatched or marked in red.
• The correct fee (please see fee scales)

If a search is submitted by a solicitor, cheques drawn on Solicitor's client accounts are preferred.  We will accept personal cheques, but only on the distinct understanding of the Solicitor's undertaking to reimburse the Council if the cheque is not cleared.

Please make cheques payable to "Surrey Heath Borough Council".

Response Times for Local Authority Searches
Our current average response time for all searches is one working day.

Cancellation of Searches
Should you wish to cancel your request for a search, the following refunds apply:

• Cancellation on day of receipt before 10am - Full Refund.
• Cancellation prior to search being completed- £50.00 Refund
• Cancellation once completed - No Refund

(please note our turnaround times).

If your search has been submitted via NLIS, please contact your channel provider promptly.  You may also care to inform us directly.

Other Related Fees

Has your completed search gone missing?
We can provide you with a further copy for a fee of £10.00

Photocopying Documents
You may wish to request these from the Local Land Charges Section, some have set fees as below and are payable in advance.

• Copy Planning Decision £9 (including VAT)
• Copy Tree Preservation Order £20.00 (including VAT)

For copies of Building Regulation Approvals, please contact Building Control on 01276 707223.

View Inspection of the Land Charges Register
An appointment is required to be made by 12 noon the proceeding day and subject to availability, giving the name of the person/company carrying out the Personal Search, their contact number and a full description against which the search is to be carried out. Details of any additional information required.  A plan clearly hatched must be faxed by 1pm on the day preceeding the search to 01276 707337. 

Service Standards
The Local Land Charges Service aims to give a prompt and effective service, responding to most requests within the timescale shown below:

We aim to:

• Complete a Non Standard Local Authority Search within 3 working days
• Complete a Standard Local Authority Search within 3 working days
• Respond to all letters and e-mails that require a response within 7 working days unless you are specifically informed.

Our commitment to you:

We aim:

• For our services to be accessible to you
• To treat you in a caring manner
• To treat you fairly and with equality
• To provide you with a quality service and to get it right first time.
• To be transparent, open and honest and ensure your privacy in all our dealings with you.
• To Listen to what you say and learn from our dealings with you
• To value our team and expect that you will treat them with the same respect that you would expect from us.

Your Views
Your suggestions, complaints, comments and compliments are important to us, because we can learn from them and they will help us to improve the Local Land Charges Service we provide to you.