As well as a monthly house price index which is available online, HMLR has other digital services that can be used to find more detailed information about specific properties. Many of our members have reported that information provided by sellers can be inaccurate or incomplete, so cross-checking the details can help reveal any issues that homebuyers would otherwise encounter further down the line, causing transactions to fall through.
Valuable services for agents and homebuyers
The Search for Land and Property information tool gives the last price paid for a property, confirms if it is leasehold or freehold, and can indicate if there are any covenants or easements on the property. The property summary information is free and instantly accessible. For £3 a Title register or Title plan is available which contains more detailed information such as who owns the property and whether there is a mortgage.
Uncover potential hidden charges
Things like planning conditions, highway agreements, tree preservation orders, conservation areas, listed buildings and environmental health notices can all influence a buying decision. The Search for local land charges on land and property service reveals this information in advance and allows agents to prepare for any questions that might precede a sale. A personal search can be done for free or an official search for £15.
Read what is included in personal and official searches →
HM Land Registry has worked with Local Authorities to bring their data into the search so results are standardised and accessible. To date, 89 local authorities have transferred their data with more to follow. It is possible to check if the relevant local authority has added their data before starting a search.
Be alerted to property fraud
As buyers approach the end of the process, agents may wish to signpost them to the free Property Alert service which offers monitoring for any potentially fraudulent activity. Whenever there’s a certain activity against a property, such as an application for a mortgage, an email alert is sent. The recipient can then decide whether the activity is suspicious and take appropriate action. An individual just needs to create a free Property Alert account and can add up to 10 properties.
Sales Protocol Toolkit
The toolkit offers huge potential to speed up transactions, reduce fall-through rates and comply with Consumer Protection Regulations.
