From yesterday (December 5), buying a property in East Cambridgeshire has become quicker and simpler. 

As part of its digital transformation, East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) 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. 

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. 

Cllr Bill Hunt, who chairs ECDC’s planning committee, said: “We have a vibrant property market here in East Cambridgeshire and we are pleased to be among the early adopters of the new register, which enables our customers to benefit from a transparent user-friendly service. 

“Being able to access accurate information will make property transactions quicker, simpler and cheaper.” 

He added: “Anything that speeds up the process of property transactions and reduces red tape must be a good thing.” 

Anyone can access the search for local land charges service and business customers can also access it through their HM Land Registry 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, and all information is delivered in a standard easy-to-read format with geospatial maps. 

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 information, while entrepreneurs and innovators will be able to develop new social and economic solutions that benefit the wider UK economy. 

East Cambridgeshire District Council will continue to manage CON29 and CON290 enquiries and customers responses, as this element of the register has not transferred to HM Land Registry.