The Law Society is consulting on proposed changes to the Con29 and Con29O enquiry forms.
Local authority searches are a vital part of the conveyancing process and give buyers important information about matters affecting a property that are registered or recorded with the local authority.
The Con29 and Con29O forms were developed many years ago to standardise the questions that solicitors asked local authorities.
This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to the Con29 and Con29O enquiries with the aim of producing updated Con29 and Con29O forms. Some of the proposed changes result from new issues, such as assets of community value, the community infrastructure levy and the Green Deal. Other proposed amendments aim to take account of recent legislative changes such as the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013.
Preliminary negotiations regarding the proposed changes have taken place with the Local Land Charges Institute and Local Government Association. The results of those discussions are set out in the draft revised forms that accompany the consultation. We are now seeking the views of solicitors, conveyancers, local authorities, search companies and other stakeholders on the proposed changes to the forms.
The Law Society also proposes that for clarity, the Con29 and Con29O enquiries are displayed with the relevant answers when returned.
The consultation will close on 1 August 2013.