Private search companies are threatening to get tough with councils who block access to property search information or fail to comply with the government’s charging guidance.
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) said this week that it would take action against local authorities that stifle competition or charge excessively. That could include referral to the local government ombudsman – or judicial review of the worst performing authorities’ procedures.
Personal search companies have frequently been hampered in their ability to provide complete search information. Until this year they could insure themselves against the consequences of gaps in data. However, on 6 April the rules changed and all searches must now be complete.
In January, the government issued guidance to local authorities providing a legal framework for them to charge for access to property records and answering enquiries.
But Kate Nicholls, head of communications and acting chief executive of CoPSO, said many authorities have failed to comply with the regulations or have introduced charges that are higher than the cost of providing access. ‘The regulations were supposed to introduce parity of fees, but it has been left up to the local authorities to set the levels and some have simply hiked up the charges,’ she said.
‘At the moment we’re trying to take a measured approach as we appreciate the new regime will take time to bed in. This is a first warning shot to encourage local authorities to get their house in order,’ said Nicholls.
A Communities and Local Government spokesman said: ‘We know the vast majority of local authorities are able to provide all the necessary search data to the private sector.’
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