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Local land charges

Introduction

If you are planning to buy a house or plot of land, or lease a property, you will need to know whether the authority will charge you for any outstanding or ongoing services.

To find this information a Local Authority Search has to be carried out. The search will provide you with important information so that you are aware of any charges or responsibilities you will be taking on when you exchange contracts.

The word charge means any outstanding financial claim, restriction, decision or information, which may affect a particular property or parcel of land. These charges are for such services as roads, restrictions such as tree preservation orders and conditions imposed on planning permissions, conservation orders, legal agreements and listed buildings.

The local land search also provides other important information, for example, if the property has been improved with the help of a local authority grant, which would affect your reselling or renting of the property.

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