Conveyancing solicitors: Scrapping personal search fee will have no benefits

Posted 11/08/2010

The government’s decision to abolish the personal search fee paid by homebuyers during the conveyancing process has been criticised by solicitors.

It was recently revealed that the £22 fee – which provides information about potential issues affecting the property – is to be scrapped to bring the UK in line with European regulation.

However, Law Society property spokesman Paul Marsh told the Law Society Gazette this decision is unlikely to have real benefits for homeowners and would result in money being taken away from local authorities.

“It could lead some councils to reduce staffing in their land charges departments, which could delay the provision of information,” he pointed out.

Fellow Law Society spokesman George Curran said the best way to provide this information would be through a public-facing terminal, although this would initially be costly to implement.

This comes after the controversial home information packs were abolished in May 2010, although sellers still require an energy performance certificate.