Conveyancers - how do I do a Local Authority Search?

Question

I'm working in a horrible firm with unhelpful bitchy people.

Can I use Searchflow and plot the maps on that? Is a Local Authority Search an "LLC1"? Or is it a "Con 29 & LLC1"? Does it matter what "parts" you search?

Thanks for any info, tips, advice, help, suggestions, and anything nice you can contribute!

Answer 1

No-one else seems to be answering this question, so I'll try. I don't work in this area at all, but I've bought and sold a few houses. I'm sorry you feel so downtrodden at work. It should not be like that, and you should be able to go to your sebior with head high and ask for precise guidance as to how to go about things. But here are some thoughts to help you do that with more confidence:

1) When private individuals do a search, they usually just ask the local council for guidance. You could do the same.

2) WHICH magazine provides a self-help pack for people doing their own conveyancing, which would presumably guide you through it. You can ask about it in the local library. Or for a small fee (£1 trial membership for three months is sometimes on offer), you can access their info on-line.

These steps would give you a better idea of what is wanted. Then you can go more confidently to your senior in the firm and ask precisely what is wanted - if there are extras you are unsure about for instance, such as mining surveys etc which are not required everywhere.  If you can't do that, you should be planning to leave! There are heaps of firms where they treat people decently.  I know someone who works as a legal sec temp, in lots of different offices, and gets well treated, even in places where she has to ask everything - and conveying was one of them. Everyone has the right to be treated with consideration and dignity.

You could "go the second mile" and also ask the estate agent who viewed the house if any building work appears to have been done on it, such as walls removed, so that while doing the searches you can check if that building work has been submitted for local authority approval. It's easy to find out whether approval has been granted for something. Not so easy to check whether approval was obtained on what has been done. The client would be very happy to have that sort of thing pointed out.