Bridgend County Borough Council improves the property-buying process in the area

From 20 February 2025, buying a property in Bridgend County Borough will become quicker and simpler for everyone.

As part of our digital transformation, we have worked with HM Land Registry to transfer our local land charges (LLC) service to their national digital register. The LLC Register allows users to search information online instantly, enabling buying decisions to be made earlier in the conveyancing process.

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 enable the buyer to make an informed decision about the purchase.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, Councillor Neelo Farr said: “The migration of our LLC service to the national register is the culmination of many months of collaboration between HM Land Registry and council colleagues.

I am so pleased that the council is to be among the early adopters of the new register, which supports wider government priorities to make property transactions quicker, simpler, and cheaper, and enabling users to benefit from a transparent user-friendly service.

The LLC Register makes it simpler and quicker for conveyancers, property buyers, developers and policy makers to make informed decisions about their projects. It also opens the property market to international customers who want to invest in our area. We will continue to manage CON29 enquiries and customers responses, as this element of the register has not transferred to HM Land Registry.”

Customers who access the register will benefit from:

• instant online access available 24/7;
• standard, easy-to-read information in a digital format;
• properties searchable by text-based address and geographical location;
• geospatial maps that provide greater assurance about the boundaries of each charge, and;
• official search results offer unlimited repeat searches for six months, and a search history dashboard that gives access to previous searches.

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. Business customers can also access it through their HM Land Registry portal account or Business Gateway. For more information visit GOV.UK.

When all local authorities in 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.