NLIS success as number of electronic searches soar

More than 1,500 individual solicitors and conveyancing firms have signed up to the National Land Information Service (NLIS) in its first year, and have so far made around 250,000 electronic searches, new figures have revealed.

The statistics also show that enquiries through NLIS - which is designed to be a one-stop-shop for on-line local authority, Land Registry and other property searches - are increasing by 30% each month.

Every local authority in England and Wales has received searches via NLIS, and almost half are already on-line or are preparing to respond electronically to requests.

Land Registry searches are turned around in two minutes, with the fastest local authority search so far taking just 13 minutes.

Speaking at a reception of local councils and government departments, Lord Chancellor's Department minister Yvette Cooper said the service was proving popular with the public because it was quick and efficient.

'If [local authorities'] systems are electronic then they can successfully interface with NLIS and searches can be completed in a matter of hours rather than days or even weeks,' she explained.

Denis Cameron, chairman of the Law Society's land law and conveyancing committee, predicted that NLIS would become an 'integral part of the e-revolution'.

He added: 'Let's face it, e-delivery is far better than waiting around for loads of pieces of paper to arrive.'

Gary Hope, conveyancing head at Bristol-based Wards - which took part in the original NLIS pilot study - predicted that the benefits of the service were likely to increase as more local authorities signed up and more searches went on-line.

'We are very pleased with it so far as it has proved a lot easier than the previous paper applications, and has the advantage of cutting down on internal administration because you don't have to sign cheques and things like that,' he explained.

Paula Rohan