A traditional paper-based local authority search can take anything from 10 to 25 days to complete, however one conveyancing company claims to have completed a search in a matter of minutes.
Conveyancing company Countrywide Property Lawyers completed a residential property search in Northampton in only 13 minutes.
The search was conducted on the internet via TM Property Services Ltd. TM, formerly known as Teramedia Ltd, is one of three licence holders providing legal professionals with the means to request searches through the National Land & Information Service (NLIS).
NLIS aims to turn the laborious task of conducting HM Land Registry, local authority and many other searches into a one-step process.
Jill Cochrane, project implementation manager of Countrywide Property Lawyers, said: “It is exciting being at the forefront of new technology. Our aim is to take the pain out of conveyancing and to streamline the process.
“It is now vital that all local authorities realise the advantages of online searches, so that the whole of the UK property market can benefit. It is encouraging to see serious steps being taken to achieve this, although there is still a long way to go.”
Countrywide Property Lawyers is part of the Countrywide Assured Group, which last year purchased a 4.7% equity share in TM Property Services Ltd.
References: Propert-e News 5/2/02
