Land Data's reaction to MOJ decision to raise fee for personal search of the local land charges register

Published by Fiona Barron for Land Data in Local Government and also in Housing

Land Data responds to Ministry of Justice and Department for Communities and Local Government decision to raise fee for personal search of the local land charges register

Land Data is pleased with the Ministry of Justice’s decision to increase the personal search fee for the local land charges register from £11 to £22, from 1st January 2010.
With Local Authorities (LAs) working to government regulation stipulating that their fees should reflect cost recovery, the majority of LAs have been subsidising the cost of every personal search undertaken.
Commenting on the decision, Land Data CEO Jan Boothroyd said: “Working on an un-level playing field and subsidising the business of private search firms serves no benefit to the public and achieved the exact opposite of the Government stated intention. This fee increase is a positive move and goes some way to help level out the playing field.”
 

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For further information please contact:
Fiona Barron / Justin Scott at Land Data
T: 07770 855 337 / 020 7268 3577
E: fiona.barron@land-data.org.uk / justin.scott@land-data.org.uk
www.land-data.org.uk

Notes to Editors
Land Data regulates NLIS, which was set up to support local authorities (LAs) and other property information holders in England and Wales in their move from manual to electronic provision of property information services. The NLIS Hub is connected to all local authorities in England and Wales, Land Registry, the Coal Authority and other sources of land and property information. The information is distributed by NLIS Channels to around 15,000 subscribed solicitors and licensed conveyancers. Since it began operation in 2001, more that 17 million searches have been processed by the NLIS Hub. Land Data became a Community Interest Company in January 2006 in recognition of its commitment to making electronic property search information accessible to the general public and thereby improving the home buying process.