From today (Thursday 19 October), the process of buying a property in Sandwell has changed for everyone.
As part of our digital transformation, we have worked with HM Land Registry to transfer our local land charges (LLC) service to their national digital register. The LLC Register allows users to search information online instantly, enabling buying decisions to be made earlier in the conveyancing process.
Most local land charges are restrictions or prohibitions on the use of property or land, such as planning permissions or listed building status. A search of the national register will reveal whether a property is subject to a charge and enable the buyer to make an informed decision about the purchase.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and the Built Environment, Councillor Laura Rollins, said:
“We are determined to make Sandwell a place where people want to live, bring up families and do business, so anything that makes this easier for our residents is to be welcomed. Our ambition as a council is to meet a full range of housing needs in attractive neighbourhoods and close to key transport routes.”
Sandwell Council transformation supports wider government priorities to make property transactions quicker, simpler and cheaper. Anyone can access the Search for local land charges service. Business customers can also access it through their HM Land Registry portal account or Business Gateway.
Users of the national register can download a personal search free of charge or buy an official search for £15. This will allow unlimited repeat searches for six months. All information is delivered in a standard easy-to-read format, with geospatial maps.
When all local authorities in England and Wales transfer their local land charges service to the national register, it will contain more than 25 million charges. Data users will find it easier to search, merge and digest the information, while entrepreneurs and innovators will be able to develop new social and economic solutions that benefit the wider UK economy.
We are pleased to be among the early adopters of the new register, which enables our customers to benefit from a transparent user-friendly service. For more information visit GOV.UK.