Industry welcomes improved access to property data

22 January 2008

The industry has welcomed new government guidelines to improve access to local authority property data.

OneSearch Direct supports the move but says it is "long overdue".

Ronnie Park, managing director of OneSearch Direct, says: “A shake-up of how local authorities are operating in relation to the data they hold and provide from the local land charges register is long overdue.

“We are particularly pleased to see that they are now being asked to return information within 24 hours.”

Park says that extracting information from local authorities across England and Wales is a “postcode lottery.”

He adds: “In some areas we are made to wait as long as three weeks for the information required for Home Information Packs, while in other areas we have the information within a few hours.

“There is no justifiable reason for the discrepancies and it is unacceptable that the consumer should be kept waiting for this vital information on a potential home purchase.”

Fiona Hoyle, chairwoman of the Council of Property Search Organisations, also welcomes the government’s measures.

She says: “For years, some local authorities have imposed severe restrictions on access to data but today’s announcement now creates a level playing field for all search providers.

“This will directly benefit consumers, who will have increased choice and faster conveyancing transactions.

“They will also have the comfort that the searches they are basing their property purchases on, whether compiled by local authorities or personal search companies, contain exactly the same information.”