You can now order a land search online from £85, with results back within five working days.

There are three ways we accept a search. A search may be submitted in paper format, you can submit an online land charges search (opens in a new window)  with our online service or through the National Land Information Service (opens in a new window)  (NLIS).

Land search requests usually come from solicitors or conveyancing companies as part of the property buying or selling process. Searches identify Local Authority issues or constraints related to a property.

The purpose of the search is to find out whether a prospective buyer of a particular property or land will inherit any commitments of a legal or general nature if they continue with the transaction.

Local land charge fees

# Please be aware that there is currently a HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) statement due regarding the issue of VAT on land charge fees (due mid-summer)

From 1 April 2011 the following fees apply:

* Due to the amount of research required to answer question 4 accurately, Dorset County Council (the highway authority) has informed us that it is unable to provide the necessary resources and as a result will not be able to answer this question. The enquirer is also invited to inspect the statutory planning register for development of a designated area

Submitting a search

Please note that search applications must include the following when submitted:

• A correct and clear address to be searched against

• A copy of an up to date location plan showing the boundaries of the property or land to be searched against, clearly marked

• The correct fee (see fee table above)

• If a search is submitted by a solicitor, cheques drawn on solicitor's client accounts are preferred.  We will accept personal cheques, but only on the distinct understanding of the solicitor's undertaking to reimburse the council if the cheque is not cleared

• Please make cheques payable to West Dorset District Council

Refresher Searches

We now carry out Refresher Searches using the following criteria:

• Searches must be submitted by the same applicant

• There is a maximum of three Refresher Searches in each calendar year

• This service is only available on Full Local Authority Searches

• The cost is £30 per refresh

Personal search guidelines

To carry out a Personal search, please use the following guidelines:

• Please see the Personal Search enquiry responsibilities taken from the CON29R document, that explains which department to contact regarding your query

• For land charges questions, contact the land charges office on 01305 252212, booking a time-slot (between Monday and Friday within the hours of 9.30am - 4.30pm). Once your appointment has been confirmed, please confirm your search request in writing stating the address and attaching a location plan clearly outlining the search area. This can be sent via e-mail, fax, DX or post

• There is a maximum of five searches per visit. Please note that we require 48 hours notice

• The search information (a copy of which can be taken away) will be held at our planning reception area, where a dedicated PC shows a digitised copy of the West Dorset District Adopted Local Plan 2006 (of which paper copies are available) and also where there is a copy of the Dorset County Council Highway Book (all other highway information is held by Dorset County Council Highway Authority)

• We will provide a planning history sheet or state relevant information regarding your search. Please note that planning history is only provided for proposed developments after 1974. For any further information visit the Customer Services Team (within the Planning Reception area)

• The land charges section provide no building control information. Enquiries should be made directly to the building control department

• Other than land charge registrations we provide no other environmental health information. Enquiries regarding such issues should be made directly to the Environmental Health Department. This includes contaminated land enquiries which are charged at the same rate as personal search data, more information is available on the contaminated land register (pdf, 15kb) (opens in a new window)

Please contact the Land Charges Team. Any other enquiries should be directed to our Customer Contact Team on 01305 251010.

• Name: Land Charges (West Dorset)
  Email: landcharges@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252212/252213
  Fax: 01305 261639
  Full details for Land Charges (West Dorset)