Enquiries of Local Authorities and Water Companies: A Practical Guide 6th Edition

As an essential part of the conveyancing process, the purchaser of domestic, agricultural, commercial or industrial property or land carries out a search at the local authority offices to discover if there are any planning; environmental health; highways or water restrictions appertaining to the property to be purchased.

This popular work gives a clear and concise commentary on the new Forms Con 29, Con29O and Con 29DW (Water and Drainage Enquiries). Now for the first time Form Con 29 has enquiries relating to surface water drainage schemes, heritage partnership agreements, flood and coastal erosion risk management, community infrastructure levy, assets of community value, flood consents and land drainage consents.

The 6th edition of this book examines each enquiry in turn, and sets out the relevant and up-to-date legal position, with sources and references, in non-technical jargon. The authors then provide a summary of the implications of any reply by the local authority or water company concerned, positive or negative, so that a prospective purchaser can make a balanced decision as to whether or not to proceed with the purchase.

For this edition, occasioned by the Law Society’s issue of the new Forms Con 29 on 4 July 2016, Keith is joined by Ken Miles, Head of Legal Services for North Devon District Council. Ken provides a modern and practical perspective on the wide-ranging implications of the legal provisions which cover a great deal of the business of local government services today.

Enquiries of Local Authorities and Water Companies will be an invaluable reference to the conveyancing practitioner and the local land charges officer.