Local authority search: LLC1 vs CON29 vs a £4.99 pre-offer check
A solicitor's local authority pack (LLC1 + CON29) typically costs £100–£250 after you instruct them. A Premium HomeBuyerCheck at £4.99 plus the official freepersonal LLC search lets you screen the property before that bill. We do not replace the conveyancer's official search.
Same Premium price as the rest of the site. No new SKU and no £15 official LLC certificate purchased by us.
LLC1 vs CON29
| Part | What it is | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| LLC1 | Register of local land charges that bind the land (planning conditions, highways agreements, TPOs, conservation, listed buildings, environmental health notices). | Part of the pack. Personal search free on GOV.UK; optional official certificate £15. |
| CON29 | Standard enquiries to the council: planning history, building control, road status, notices and nearby schemes. | Part of the pack. Council-set fee. |
| Solicitor pack | LLC1 + CON29 ordered together after you instruct a conveyancer. | £100–£250 |
| Premium pre-offer check | Open-data listed / conservation / Article 4 / TPO plus the wider HomeBuyerCheck risk report. Points you to the free personal LLC search. | £4.99 |
Why the solicitor pack still matters
Lenders expect an official local authority search. The CON29 answers questions open data cannot, and the official LLC1 is the register your conveyancer relies on. HomeBuyerCheck does not claim to replace that pack, and we do not buy the £15 official LLC certificate on any sale.
What to do before you pay £100–£250
- Run a free HomeBuyerCheck on the address, then Premium at £4.99 if you want the overlays and wider risk picture.
- Run the official free personal search at gov.uk/search-local-land-charges. Not every local authority has migrated onto the HM Land Registry service yet.
- If you still want the property, instruct a solicitor and let them order the official LLC1 + CON29 pack.
Your report options
Funnel into the existing Premium product. No new price and no new Stripe product.
Open-data listed / conservation / Article 4 / TPO plus flood, ground, radon and ownership — so you only pay the £100–£250 solicitor pack on a property you still want.
Everything in Premium, plus AI briefs your solicitor and surveyor can use once the official LLC1 + CON29 is on order.
Everything in Premium+, plus the official title register in plain English. Still not a substitute for the council search pack.
Check your property now
Free instant check. Premium is still £4.99.
Clear limit
This page contrasts the solicitor pack with a cheap pre-offer screen. It does not claim HomeBuyerCheck replaces a conveyancer's official search.
Frequently asked questions
What is a local authority search?
It is the pack your conveyancer orders from the council: an LLC1 (Local Land Charges register) plus a CON29 (standard enquiries about planning, roads, building control and nearby schemes). Together they typically cost £100 to £250.
What is the difference between LLC1 and CON29?
LLC1 reads charges that bind the land. CON29 asks the council questions about the property and the area around it. They are usually sold as one pack, not as a HomeBuyerCheck product.
Does a £4.99 Premium report replace the solicitor search?
No. Premium is a pre-offer screen from open data, plus a pointer to the official free personal LLC search. It does not replace a conveyancer's official LLC1 + CON29 pack.
Is there a free official LLC search?
Yes. The personal search on GOV.UK is free. An optional £15 official certificate exists; HomeBuyerCheck does not purchase it. Not every local authority has migrated onto the HM Land Registry service yet.
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