Buyer guide
What Is a CON29 Search?
Updated 29 May 2026
A CON29 search is part of the local authority search carried out by your solicitor when buying a house. It asks the council a set of standard questions about the property and reveals planning permissions, building control records, nearby road and rail proposals, and enforcement notices. The full local authority pack, combining the LLC1 and CON29, typically costs around £100 to £250.
Local authority search components and typical costs
| Component | What it covers | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| LLC1 | Entries in the Local Land Charges Register such as conservation areas and financial charges | Part of pack |
| CON29 | Planning, building control, roads, enforcement and nearby proposals | Part of pack |
| CON29O | Optional enquiries such as common land and footpaths | Extra fee per question |
| Full pack (LLC1 + CON29) | Combined local authority search ordered together | £100 to £250 |
What the CON29 covers
The CON29 is a standard set of enquiries put to the local authority by your solicitor or conveyancer. It is one half of the local authority search, sitting alongside the LLC1 which checks the Local Land Charges Register.
The CON29 focuses on matters the council holds records for, particularly anything that could restrict, devalue or affect how you use the property.
- Planning permissions and applications relating to the property
- Building control approvals and completion certificates
- Road, rail and traffic schemes near the property
- Whether roads serving the property are adopted and maintained at public expense
- Enforcement notices, breaches of planning control and stop notices
- Contaminated land notices and certain environmental designations
CON29 versus CON29O
The standard CON29 questions are included in every local authority search. The CON29O, or optional enquiries, cover additional matters that may only be relevant to some properties and usually carry an extra fee per question.
Optional enquiries can include common land, public footpaths, road proposals beyond 200 metres, and certain pipeline or environmental questions. Your solicitor will advise which optional enquiries are worth raising for the specific property.
Why the CON29 matters before you commit
The CON29 can flag problems that change how much a property is worth or how you can live in it. A planning enforcement notice, an unbuilt road scheme on the doorstep, or an extension built without building control sign off are all things you would want to know before exchanging contracts.
Because the local authority search only begins once a solicitor is instructed and can take one to three weeks to come back, running a free or low cost online property check first lets you spot obvious red flags before you spend money on the full conveyancing search pack.
How HomeBuyerCheck fits in
HomeBuyerCheck is a pre-offer due diligence tool, not a replacement for the formal CON29. It pulls together data from public bodies including the Environment Agency, the Coal Authority, HM Land Registry and the British Geological Survey so you can screen a property before paying for searches.
The free report gives you the headline risks, while the £4.99 Premium and £6.99 Premium+ reports add deeper detail. You then go into the £250 to £450 conveyancing search pack already knowing what to look out for.
Check any UK property before you offer
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Frequently asked questions
Is the CON29 the same as the local authority search?
Not quite. The local authority search is made up of two parts: the LLC1, which checks the Local Land Charges Register, and the CON29, which asks the council standard questions about planning, roads and enforcement. The two are usually ordered together as one pack.
Who orders the CON29 search?
Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer orders it on your behalf once they have been instructed, usually after your offer has been accepted. You cannot exchange contracts safely without it.
How much does a CON29 search cost?
The full local authority pack, combining the LLC1 and CON29, typically costs between £100 and £250 depending on the council and the search provider. Optional CON29O enquiries cost extra per question.
How long does a CON29 take to come back?
It varies by council. Some return results within a few days, while busier authorities can take one to three weeks or longer. Searches are one of the most common causes of delay in a property purchase.
Can I do a CON29 myself before instructing a solicitor?
You can request a personal local authority search, but most lenders and solicitors prefer an official regulated search. Running a free online property check first is a cheaper way to spot obvious risks before you commit to the formal search pack.
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