Land Registry in prototype for digitised central register of local land charge info

Seven local authorities are to take part in a Land Registry prototype to see if their local land charge registers can be consolidated into a digitised central register.

If the system works as planned, the Land Registry would be able to provide local land charge searches alongside the title register and plan through its existing e-channels, “to a standardised price, format and turnaround time”.

The seven councils participating in the scheme, which is due to end by December 2013, are:

  • Sefton;
  • Liverpool;
  • Denbighshire;
  • Newark and Sherwood;
  • Swindon;
  • Havant; and
  • Watford.

Should the prototype work, legislation would be required to bring in the change.

The Land Registry revealed that it would also develop, via the prototype, a solution using open standards for local authorities to publish Con 29 information. In conjunction with the Coal Authority, it will explore the mechanisms to supply Coal Authority (CON29 M) results alongside Local Land Charge and CON29R search results.

Malcolm Dawson, Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive of the Land Registry, said: "There are huge variations in how local land charges and Con 29 information is held across local authorities, ranging from paper record cards and plans to scanned data and microfiche, resulting in variations in cost, quality and speed.

“As a public service it is not as efficient as it could be and, while search intermediaries have had some success in providing integration, overall the service being provided does not meet customers' needs.”

Dawson added: “Our proposals are aimed at making a real difference to conveyancing efficiency by providing easy and transparent access to vital land and property information.

“This would create, for the first time, not only a single digital channel to the data, but an integrated dataset across all local authorities. This would be accessible on a level playing field and is potentially of significant interest and value, providing new opportunities for the private sector and benefits for the wider economy by providing the best possible environment for business to flourish."

Jonathan Smithers, chairman of the Law Society’s conveyancing and land law committee, said: "Digitising local land charge information could be the start of something that is good news for everyone, from home buyers to mortgage lenders and conveyancers, as it could make the collection of information in the conveyancing process more straightforward.

"The digitisation could result in standardised fees, response times and general service levels. Consumers could be given more certain information about conveyancing costs; currently the cost of a local authority search depends on the location of the property. It could also make the information that home buyers and their mortgage lenders need more readily available and useable."