'Is this property in your area?'
Please telephone the Council and ask for the Local Land Charges section on 01803 861127
'What are your Local Land Charges fees?' ' When will it increase?'
Please see attached fees schedule for current fees . The fee is reviewed annually and any change generally takes effect from 1st April.
'How long does a Local Land Charges search take?'
We aim to reply to standard Local Land Charge searches within 6 working days, though currently we are responding within 4 working days.
'Do I need to send a plan with my Local Land Charges search?'
Yes two copies of an up to date Ordnance Survey plan are required with the boundary of the property clearly edged in red.
Plans are not required if site layout plans have been 'deposited' with the Council specifically for search purposes by the developers of a new housing site.
'Who should the cheque be made payable to?'
South Hams District Council'
'Are you on the Document Exchange (DX)?'
Yes
DX 300050
Totnes 2.
'What is the difference between an official search and a personal search?'
The most important differences are:
- The official search is certified by the Council; the Local Land Charges Act 1975 makes provision for compensation if anything goes wrong. The accompanying CON29R Form can only be completed by trained Council staff who have access to the information required. The information includes approved schemes that have not yet been implemented such as highway schemes, parking restrictions, traffic calming measures or Building Control, Environmental Health or Planning notices which are outstanding.
- A personal search can be made by appointment at the Council office. The search result is from the Register of Local Land Charges and does not include CON29R or CON29O information although personal callers can inspect other statutory registers such as the Planning Register and the Highways Register. The search result is not certified and any compensation claim has to be made through the Persoanl Search Agent who completed the search.
For personal search guidelines
'Do you answer the drainage enquiries?'
No not since 1 April 2002. Please refer to South West Water, Records Office, Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR
Website: South West Water.
'What other searches do I need to do, coal mining, tin etc.?'
We are unable to answer this question for reasons of liability. The Law Society Conveyancing Handbook contains some information with regard to which searches should be made in the different parts of the United Kingdom.
'Do you carry out searches of the Commons Register?'
Yes please submit a CON29O form and indicate Question number 22 on that form, with the appropriate plans and fee.
'Do you offer expedited Local Land Charges searches?'
Yes for an additional fee we will endeavour to fax or email the completed search forms early on the third working day, please indicate if you prefer the results to be emailed.
'If the land is within Dartmoor National Park, do we need to send searches to the National Park Authority?'
No, all searches will be dealt with by South Hams District Council.
'Do you register land ownership?' or 'Can you tell us who is the owner of a plot of land?'
No, this Department holds no information regarding land ownership. However Property Services are able to tell you whether a piece of land is within South Hams District Councils ownership.
Local knowledge is often the only way of finding out ownership, although you may find further information from:-
Plymouth District Land Registry,
Plumer House,
Tailyour Road,
Crownhill,
Plymouth, Devon
PL6 5HY
DX 8299
Plymouth 4
Telephone number:- 01752 636123
'Can you tell me where the boundaries of my property are?'
No, we hold no information regarding boundaries. They are complex subjects in themselves. The starting place for this information is the deeds of the property. Speak with your solicitor or you may need to employ the services of a legally qualified person or qualified surveyor.
