From Friday, 12 July, the process to find out details about a property in Medway will change, as Medway Council joins the land charges service.

As part of Medway Council’s digital transformation programme, the council has worked with HM Land Registry to transfer its local land charges (LLC) service to the national digital register.

The LLC Register allows users to search information online instantly, enabling buying decisions to be made earlier in the conveyancing process.

Medway Council will continue to manage requests made when buying a property – known as CON29 enquiries – as this element of the register has not transferred to HM Land Registry.

Most local land charges are restrictions or prohibitions on the use of property or land, such as planning permissions or listed building status. A search of the national register will reveal whether a property is subject to a charge, and enables the buyer to make an informed decision about the purchase.

Anyone can access the register’s Search for local land charges service. Business customers can also access it through their portal account or Business Gateway.

Users of the national register can download a personal search free of charge or buy an official search for £15. This will allow unlimited repeat searches for six months. All information is delivered in a standard easy-to-read format, with geospatial maps.

When all local authorities – across England and Wales – transfer their local land charges service to the national register, it will contain more than 25 million charges. Data users will find it easier to search, merge and digest the information, while entrepreneurs and innovators will be able to develop new social and economic solutions that benefit the wider UK economy.

For more information, visit: GOV.UK