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If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing well

03 Apr 2020   |   Joanna Fowke   |   0 Comments

We are living in some strange times indeed, mainly with the COVID-19 lockdown causing many markets and many industries to vary their business models and work out how they can operate effectively from home. It would appear that us in the housing market are potentially more fortunate than others, in as much as our work CAN be done remotely and from speaking to many solicitors and property lawyers…..quite easily it would appear.

We wanted you all to know that despite the curve balls that are constantly coming our way, that we are able to operate as we did before and across 90% of England and Wales.

That’s right you did hear correctly…..90% of Local Authorities are still open and operating a Local Search Service

What this means is, there is no need for reduced data searches OR having to go back to the 1980’s and use insurance to cover your transactions. Your searches will be completed the right way and in a lender compliant manner, with the CoPSO and the Search Code seal of approval.

This is an update of Local Authorities that are currently NOT offering 'Search Services'

Councils CLOSED until further notice:

Corby, Darlington, Dover, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East Derbyshire, West Berkshire, Kingston Upon Thames, Amber Valley, Breckland, Kent Council (Highway Extend requests), East Riding of Yorkshire, Barrow, Flintshire, Blackburn with Darwen, Tameside, Wrexham, South Staffordshire. *Recently Added*  City of York, Bury, Stratford, Broadland, Greenwich, Hyndburn

The following councils are temporarily closed whilst they assess if they can offer their services in an alternative way:
Brighton, Cheshire East, Copeland, Derbyshire Dales, Eden, Elmbridge, Flintshire, Kings Lynn, Monmouth, Newark & Sherwood, North Lincolnshire, North Warwickshire, Slough, Torfaen, Tynedale, Vale of Glamorgan, West Lindsey, Burnley, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Wirral, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, East Hampshire. *Recently Added* Poole, Chesterfield, Pendle, Rossendale, St Helens, Waverley

Councils closed but offering PLAS for an additional fee:
Canterbury (£30.00)

Councils that are now back up and running:
Blaenau Gwent, Stockton on Tees, Newcastle Under Lyme, Calderdale, Neath Port Talbot, Liverpool, Sefton, Runnymede, Caerphilly, Gateshead, Test Valley, Cornwall. *Recently Added* Newark & Sherwood, Bridgend, Oldham

This is an ever-changing situation and we aim to update these lists three times per week and keep you all informed, thankfully all the councils above equate to c.10% of all Councils across England and Wales and so in all other locations we are pleased to report BAU! (Business As Usual).

Please do call or email us if you require any further information about these councils or anything else for that matter, we will be more than happy to help.

Your CDS Team