This is a search that is almost invariably required on any purchase of a property, carried out by the local authority responsible for the property or by a personal search company.

Most solicitors/conveyancers use a personal search company as this has been increasing effective due to the quicker turnarounds and also the price implications.

The mortgage lenders accept the majority of personal local authority searches if the search company is registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB).

The local authority search will include such matters as:

• all local land charges
• all planning decisions (pending and decided)
• building regulations decisions (subject to availability)
• planning designations and proposals within a radius of 200m of the property (also called zoning) – please be aware that some companies will not include proposals within 200m only proposals that your property is within
• highway/road adoption status
• highway schemes
• tree preservation orders (TPOs)
• compulsory purchase orders (CPOs)
• enforcement notices
• any other relevant schemes and notices

Personal local authority searches normally take 4 to 7 working days, but this can be longer if there are delays at certain councils.

Your solicitor/conveyancer may choose to go direct to the council; in most cases this is more expensive.