Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS)
Compiled in-house. Regulated and insured. Accepted by the lenders.
Regulated Local Authority Searches are the bedrock on which HW Conveyancing Searches is built. We produce clear, thorough reports on any property in England and Wales, compiled in-house by our own expert team and completed as quickly as possible to help your transaction exchange smoothly.
What is a Regulated Local Authority Search?
A Regulated Local Authority Search, or RLAS, gives you the essential local authority information recorded against a property, from planning and building control history to nearby road schemes, enforcement notices and other charges that could affect your client. The difference is that it is compiled by a regulated and insured search company rather than the council itself.
With decades of combined industry experience behind every report, we take pride in the quality, professionalism and accuracy of the searches we provide, on every single property in England and Wales.
Each search is produced in-house by our expert team, and every report carries the name and contact details of the person who compiled it. If you have a query, you speak directly to them. There are no call centres and no chat bots, just direct access to the individual who prepared your search.
A Quick Note on Terminology
The language around searches has moved on over the years, so it is worth being clear about what the modern terms mean.
| Previously known as | Now correctly called |
|---|---|
| Personal Searches | Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS) |
| Official Search | Council Search |
The distinction matters. Searches ordered through the local council are unregulated and uninsured. The searches we compile ourselves, with our experience and close attention to detail, are both regulated and insured, giving you and your client an added layer of protection.
What Sets Our Searches Apart
Compiled in-house
Every search is produced by our own expert team rather than outsourced, so the quality and accuracy of your report stay firmly in our hands.
A named compiling agent
Each report shows the name and contact details of the person who prepared it. Any query goes straight to them, with no call centres or chat bots to work through.
Regulated and insured
Our searches are both regulated and insured, giving you and your client a layer of protection that a council search does not provide.
The whole of England and Wales
We provide searches on any property in England and Wales, so you can bring all your work to a single trusted partner.
Trusted by Lenders, Backed by The Search Code
We are proud members of The Search Code, and you will see its logo displayed prominently on the front page of every search we produce. That accreditation is your assurance of the quality and accuracy of our practices, and it is why our searches are accepted by all the major lenders and the majority of the lesser known ones too.
How to Order Your Searches
If you do not yet have access to our ordering system, email us and we will set up your log-in credentials. Would you like to see a sample first? Email us for obligation-free assistance or fill in our contact form and we will reply shortly.
Regulated Local Authority Searches: Common Questions
What is a Regulated Local Authority Search (RLAS)?
It is a local authority search compiled by a regulated, insured search company rather than the council. It gives you the essential local information, including planning and building control history, nearby road schemes and charges recorded against the property.
What is the difference between an RLAS and a council search?
A council search is ordered directly from the local authority and is unregulated and uninsured. An RLAS is compiled by us and is both regulated and insured, giving you and your client added protection.
What used to be called a personal search?
What was once known as a personal search is now an RLAS, and the old official search is now called a council search. The service is the same, the terminology has simply moved on.
Are your searches accepted by mortgage lenders?
Yes. As members of The Search Code, our searches are accepted by all major lenders and the majority of smaller ones. You can check the current position for any lender in the UK Finance Lenders' Handbook.
Which areas do you cover?
We provide Regulated Local Authority Searches on any property in England and Wales.
Can I see a sample before I order?
Yes. Email us or complete the contact form and we will send a sample and answer any questions, with no obligation.