Local Land Searches - Council Timelines

geoave1

Hi all, I posted in another unrelated thread but I was asked to start a new one as it would be easier to refer to. Below are 2 websites which show council search turnaround times. It might be useful for people to share their timelines for searches coming back given the current delays people are facing and the SDLT deadline looming in March.
Mine was Epping Forest and took 7 weeks to come back (37 working days so in line with the timelines on the below websites).

http://search-acumen.co.uk/covid-19-coronavirus

https://www.searchflow.co.uk/news-and-events/local-authority-turnaround-time-increases/

Bad_Accountant

geoave1 said:

Hi all, I posted in another unrelated thread but I was asked to start a new one as it would be easier to refer to. Below are 2 websites which show council search turnaround times. It might be useful for people to share their timelines for searches coming back given the current delays people are facing and the SDLT deadline looming in March.
Mine was Epping Forest and took 7 weeks to come back (37 working days so in line with the timelines on the below websites).

http://search-acumen.co.uk/covid-19-coronavirus

https://www.searchflow.co.uk/news-and-events/local-authority-turnaround-time-increases/

That's about in line with my experience of my local searches.

Feel bad for anyone trying to move in Stratford on Avon District Council - 75 working days! That's three and a half months... plus two weeks off for Xmas and you're looking at four months!

NatNat77

Mine were ordered early Oct and aren't due back until 17 Dec, I'm not sure if they were personal or direct but either way those time frames are significantly out. London Borough of Havering 

geoave1

NatNat77 said:

Mine were ordered early Oct and aren't due back until 17 Dec, I'm not sure if they were personal or direct but either way those time frames are significantly out. London Borough of Havering 

Hi @NatNat77, that doesn’t sound right. Looking at haverings actual website it says 20 working days:
https://www.havering.gov.uk/info/20034/planning/472/search_for_local_land_charges

NatNat77

geoave1 said:

NatNat77 said:

Mine were ordered early Oct and aren't due back until 17 Dec, I'm not sure if they were personal or direct but either way those time frames are significantly out. London Borough of Havering 

Hi @NatNat77, that doesn’t sound right. Looking at haverings actual website it says 20 working days:
https://www.havering.gov.uk/info/20034/planning/472/search_for_local_land_charges

Yes it does, but ours were ordered almost 2 months ago and aren't due back for another 2.5 weeks. I wish it were a true indication but in my case it definitely isn't...my sister is also moving, same Borough, and hers have taken well over 20 days as well. Although she did order hers after and is getting them back 10 days before me, I think her conveyancer used a company though

Swash

Thanks for posting those links. We're waiting for searches back from Warrington and was wondering how long it could take. 2 weeks doesn't sound too bad.

GN2020

Ours is showing at 30 working days on the website but they’ve told our solicitor that they’re not doing any at all until the end of January! 

artyclarty

Our local authority is still dealing with backlogs and suggest that those at the back end of the queue will likely get theirs back by easter, all things going well that is!

theartfullodger

As the Tories have been so massively reducing funds given to councils, the councils are having to cut back.  See..

https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/5.40_01_Finance publication_WEB_0.pdf

60p in the pound of what they used to get. 

pbhb

I am buying in Huntingdonshire, the website says 20 days but I have been waiting just over 14 days and now been told to epxpect them in by 20th January, so much longer than stated on the website

Kaila08

I'm waiting on Havering council and my EA just emailed my solicitors saying the searches are taking upto 6months if a search provider is being used.