Local Land Searches Summit helps bridge the gap in property search services market

Discussing the future of the property search services at last week's Local Search Summit held in Birmingham, Peter Matthew, Deputy Director of the Home Buying & Selling Unit at Communities and Local Government acknowledged, "no one party could do it alone”.

Referring to Local Authorities and private search companies, he acknowledged the issues facing each and the importance of finding resolutions to enable both parties to work together for the good of the consumer.    He commented that Government's role was to provide a framework to enable this process and that its directive on access, consultations on charging and the forthcoming removal of insurance went some way to establishing the framework.

Over 150 senior industry experts gathered at yesterday's Summit, an event hosted by Land Data and the Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO).  The event marks a first for the property searches industry bringing together local land charges officers with private search companies. 
The mood of the delegates was positive; a willingness to work together and find ways to bridge gaps was evident during the afternoon workshops, with many asking for regular regional focus groups to be set up for further discussion.

Other speakers at the Summit included, Simon Welch, West Bromwich Building Society,  Ted Beardsall, Deputy Chief Executive, Land Registry, Nigel Hemmings from Birmingham City Council, STL's Craig Lamb and Chris Harris from LMS.