Local Land Searches and Charges
New Service
Dartford Borough Council has just launched Land Charges Direct provides full flexible official search service, connecting users directly to land and property information held by Dartford Borough Council.
Create and account, and submit and receive your searches electronically direct to the Local Land Charges Team.
Its Easy, Economical and Expedited
For more information see Land Charges Direct
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If you are a potential buyer of a property in the Borough of Dartford then you may well be aware that, as part of the conveyancing process, a search against that property is conducted to uncover any restrictions or legal obligations on the building(s) or plot of land.
Data is held and maintained by Dartford Borough Council. Searches can be requested by you or, more usually, through your solicitor.
- Types of Searches
- Search Turnarounds
- Contact Details
- Fees
- Fees for CON29R data
- Land Charge Statement
- Statutory Registers
- Drainage and Water Enquires
- Neighbouring Land Charges Departments
- Common Land Searches
- Land Registry
- Stamp Duty Exempt Areas
- How to order your ordnance survey maps for planning, building control, land charges and street naming applications
- Search for property information
Types of Searches
There are a number of different types of search service available. Ask your solicitor what type of search service you are receiving.
There are differences between an Official Search (either electronic or postal) and a Personal Search.
Official Searches
A Local Land Charge Search usually comprises two elements - a LLC1 Form and a CON29R (Required) form. There is also an optional form called a CON29O (Optional).
- LLC1 - A requisition for search and official certificate of search
- This requests information from the register about all local land charges registered against a property within Dartford. This relates to matters such as tree preservation orders, planning decisions, grants, conservation areas etc.
- CON29 - A list of standard enquiries to a Local Authority
- This contains a list of 16 set questions (CON29R) and 19 optional questions (CON29O).
The Local Land Charges Section carries out all official searches covered by the Local Land Charges Act 1975.
It does this guaranteeing complete and comprehensive replies to the Official Certificate of Search (LLC1) and CON29 enquiries. An official search is carried out by trained Local Authority Officers.
You are advised to confirm with your solicitor if an official search has been undertaken and to inspect the Certificate of Official Search (LLC1) and CON29 enquiries to ensure that they have both been carried out to your satisfaction.
Electronic Searches
To provide our customers with an effective and economical search service, Dartford Borough Council has signed up with electronic search providers
We would recommend that you use the electronic service as it has a number of benefits over a postal search:
- IT IS CHEAPER - Our costs are signifiicantly less than for a postal search so we pass that saving on to you. There is also no cost to use the post or the DX
- IT IS QUICKER - It reduces your turnaround time. Electronic results are returned to you within minutes of completion. It is also quicker to submit electronically than it is to send through the post/DX
- IT IS GREENER - It withdraws the need for printing and processing paper copies
- IT IS EASY - The electronic search provides an easy to use facility for your search needs
- IT IS WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT! - More than 50% of our customer can't be wrong
Our internal deadline for electronic searches is 5 working days rather than 10 working days for postal searches
The sites that you can use to submit an online search are:
Some of the services use NLIS protocols to provide links to Dartford Borough Council.
The links above to the websites should provide you with all the information that you need to submit an online search to Dartford.
Postal Searches
To request a search by post you need to submit the LLC1 and CON29 form. These are available through the Law Society or your solicitor. Your submission should include the following items:
- LLC1
- CON29
- The correct search fee (See Fees section)
- The correct and clear address of the property to be searched
- Two plans with the land clearly edged in red
Anything missing from the submission will mean that the land search will be delayed. Any plans which are unclear or poorly marked will result in the land search being delayed. Any address which is unclear will result in the land search being delayed.
The address where the search should be sent is:
Land Charges
Dartford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Home Gardens
Dartford
DA1 1DR
Alternatively we do accept Hays DX post and our number is DX 142726 Dartford 7
Personal Searches
A personal search is a search of the Local Land Charges Register only. This information can be viewed by the public .
Any person may make a personal search of the Local Land Charges Register. Local Land Charges staff are not always available to assist those wishing to conduct a personal search so some knowledge of Local Land Charges and/or the governing legislation is therefore desirable.
If you don’t have this knowledge we advise you to seek legal advice from a conveyance solicitor or use a Personal Search Agency to ensure all aspects of the work are done correctly. Personal Searches are not accompanied by a legal certificate even when carried out by a Personal Search Agency.
The Law Society which regulates solicitors, encourages the use of official searches and considers that alternative personal searches of the statutory register, disclosing only limited information should only be undertaken with the approval of the client.
As of the 27th July 2010, the Government decided to revoke the statutory fee of £22 for personal searches of the local land charges register. This amendment came into force on 17th August 2010.The Government is making this change to local land charges legislation as the statutory fee is incompatible with Environmental Information Regulations 2004.Within legislation is the right to make reasonable charges if information is requested from the Council rather than inspected directly by customers.
Accessing Personal Search information at Dartford Borough Council
There are two options:
- Compiled Search of the Register
- Onsite Inspection
Compiled Search of the Register
You can now order a Complied Search of the Local Land Charges Register through Land Charges Direct. Receive your search direct to your desktop, laptop, or even Smartphone. Never Leave your desk
Information Provided
- A viewable copy of the Register
- A map of the Search extent
There is a compilation fee of £5 payable by Credit or Debit Card for this service.
Request a Compiled Search online now
Onsite Inspection
A member of the Contact Centre staff will process a Personal Search of the Local Land Charges Register, while you wait. You can make notes from the screen but no printing is possible.
Charges will be made if customers require Council officers to validate the information sought for search purposes.
On arrival at the Civic Centre make an appointment to see a customer service advisor who will take payment (if needed) and provide you with a copy of the register. Other information is available online or through the terminal in reception.
- Planning History is available online
- Building Control History is available online
- Local Plan Information is available online
If you require details of the Planning and Building Control history, this can be viewed on the above mentioned websites.
Search Turnarounds
Below is table showing the turnaround times for standard searches completed by Dartford Borough Council
| Postal Search | Electronic Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Indicator Target | 10 Working Days | 5 Working Days |
| Actual Figure (Average) | 2 Working Days | 1 Working Day |
The statutory turnaround time is 10 working days. Please phone your solicitor first regarding the status of the search before contacting the Council
Additional Questions or Enquiries
Should you require information concerning any planning applications received or approved adjoining or within the vicinity of the land parcel, that is not covered by either CON29R or CON29O, this can be raised as an additional enquiry at a cost of £15 per question.
Expedited Searches
Searches can be conducted through the electronic channels or by post once the correct fee has been paid. An expedited search will be returned by the next working day.
Contact Details
Please contact us using the details below:
Land Charges
Property Information
Dartford Civic Centre
Home Gardens
Dartford
Kent DA1 1DR
Telephone: 01322 343281
DX Number: DX 142726 Dartford 7
Email : propertyinformation@dartford.gov.uk
Common Land and Village Green Searches
Dartford Borough Council can now answer Common Land queries. All common land searches should be requested using the CON29O form and selecting Q22. The fee is currently £15.00. All further enquries should be sent to:
Kent County Council
Countryside Access Service
Invicta House
Maidstone
Kent ME14 1XX
Telephone: 0845 345 0210
Email : commons.villagegreens@kent.gov.uk
Land Registry
Dartford Borough Council does not hold information on land ownership or the boundaries of ownership of private land. For that information please consult HM Land Registry at the following website address http://www.landreg.gov.uk/info/contacts.asp or by writing to
Land Registry
Chalfont Drive
Nottingham
Notts
NG8 3RN
Telephone: 0844 892 1111
