Introduction
We deal with two types of land charges. A Local Land Charge Search (regarding property and land), and a Highways Land Charge Search (regarding highways in Somerset).
A Local Land Charge Search is carried out when a property or a piece of land is being purchased, leased or valued in order to find out if there are any local authority matters affecting the land or property.
If you are thinking about buying a home in Somerset, as part of the house buying process you are encouraged to submit a search on the property to identify any restrictions or legal obligations that may be associated with the property and imposed by a local authority.
Anyone can submit a search application, but most are received from solicitors acting on behalf of their clients and are covered by the legal fees they charge, although you can, if you wish, request the search yourself (personal search).
The search looks at twelve main areas, or ‘charges’ (restrictions) and checks whether or not any of these apply to the property you are intending to buy, these are:
- General financial charges
- Specific financial charges
- Planning charges
- Miscellaneous charges
- Fenland ways maintenance charges
- Land compensation charges
- New towns charges
- Civil aviation charges
- Opencast coal charges
- Listed building charges
- Light obstruction notices
- Drainage scheme charges
Land Charges Fees
- LLC1 only – £28
- CON29R only – £156
- A Full Search (CON29 and LLC1) – £184
Optional extras
- CON29O (each question) – £14.10
- Each additional parcel of land – £19.40
- Each solicitors own question – £40.80
For a full list of fees, please visit our Fees and charging webpage.
National Land Information Service
We can accept searches through the National Land Information Service (NLIS) hub. For more information about electronic submission, contact the National Land and Information Service on 020 7251 8385 or visit the National Land and Information Service website.
Additional parcels of land
The guidance note on the LLC1 for a Parcel of Land states: ‘A separate requisition for search should be made in respect of each parcel of land in respect of which a search is required except where, for the purpose of a single transaction, a certificate is required in respect of two or more parcels of land which have a common boundary or are separated only by a road, railway, river, stream or canal.’
Highways Land Charge Search
We are the highway authority for Somerset and hold information about the status and extent of the highways in Somerset.
Before submitting an enquiry please read the Access to information required for a local enquiries search – Information note (PDF, 633KB) which lists the information available.
Solicitors and personal search companies can submit a Highways only search directly to us.
To fulfil the access requirements set out in the Communities and Local Government’s Good Practice Guidance for Local Authorities and Personal Searchers, we provide a collated response to relevant CON 29 enquiries that we can answer.
Drainage searches
For official drainage searches, visit Wessex Searches website.
Land ownership
For information regarding land or properties not owned by the council please visit Land Registry website.
Personal search
Mendip (East)
A personal search can be carried out using the Local Land Charges Register via our Online Portal.
Guidance on how to use the portal can be found here: Local Land Charges Portal user guide (PDF, 950KB).
If you have any feedback, please complete our feedback form. We will respond to your enquiry within 5 working days.
Sedgemoor (North)
The Land Charges Register is a service that allows you to search via map for land charge records for any location within Sedgemoor. The planning information is available online from 2000 to the present day through the website. The planning plotting sheets with information before 2000 are available on our website.
The land charges register is available to view on Sedgemoor Land and Property Searches page.
To perform a spatial search:
- Click the cog to display the map menu
- Search for a location on the map by entering a location or postcode and click ‘find location’
- Select the drawing type
- Draw or plot on the map – the scale of the map must be 20 metres maximum to be able to plot on screen.
- Submit the search
Any search carried out by an agent is not certified by the local authority and any compensation claims would need to be made through the personal search company that completed the search.
Somerset West and Taunton (West)
You can find information on planning history searches on our website. Personal searches of the Local Land Charges Register can be carried out by using the online search.
We cannot guarantee information from a personal search agent from public registers. The search result is not certified by us, and any compensation claims would need to be made through the personal search company completing the search.
South Somerset (South)
The Local Land Charge Register is available for public inspection. You can find out how to perform a search on Personal searches of the Land Charges Register in South Somerset page.
There is no fee for the inspection of the Register. Our computerised records of planning permissions do not extend back before 1990. Applications made prior to 1990 are available to view on our website.
Land Charges Terms and Conditions
Whilst Somerset Council makes every effort:
- to maintain the accuracy of the information in these website pages, we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage which may occur from the use of the information provided
- to keep the information on the Local Land Charges Register accurate, we make no warranty or representation, express or implied about its accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for a particular purpose. Thus, you assume full responsibility for using the information supplied, and you understand and agree that neither Somerset Council nor any of its employees are liable for any claim, loss or damage resulting from its use
Contact us
Email: landcharges@somerset.gov.uk
Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests
CON29 questions from July 2016 and their data source contacts:
- 1.1 a-i: Visit the planning application page.
- 1.1 j-l 3.7a 3.8: Information is available on the Somerset Building Control Partnership website.
- 1.2 3.1 3.9 3.11 3.12: Visit the planning pages of our website.
- 2.1 – 2.5 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 3.6: Contact Land Charges. Phone on 01823 356003 or email LandChargesHighways@somerset.gov.uk.
- 3.3: Our records do not allow for the provision of comprehensive answers in relation to this question. It is advisable that the purchaser undertakes checks of planning approvals, Section 106 agreements and with the vendor to establish whether any sustainable urban drainage systems are in place at the property.
- 3.7 b, c, d, e, f, g and 3.12: Use the general enquiries form. Please make sure you set out your questions in detail.
- 3.10: Visit the Community Infrastructure Levy page.
- 3.11: Visit the Conservation areas page.
- 3.13: Visit the Contaminated land page.
- 3.14: The South West of England has many areas where the concentration of Radon is high, and several within the Somerset West and Taunton area. For general information and enquiries about a particular postal area visit Ukradon, the UK reference site on radon from Public Health England.
- 3.15: Visit the Assets of community value page.