The letters page of 10 April once again raised the issue of personal searches being accepted as part of the conveyancing process. Daniel Sproull stated that 'the search was a personal search which we, like all other firms in our immediate area, will not accept' (see [2008] Gazette, 10 April, 16). While this attitude prevails, we will continue to face an uphill battle in delivering a faster, more efficient and cost-effective conveyancing process to the UK house-buyer.


The simple facts of the matter are that the personal search industry grew as a direct result of local authorities being unable to carry out searches in a cost-effective and efficient manner, and these failings continue to apply across some councils. Personal searches now account for approximately 80% of all searches in home information packs and without them the home-buying process could grind to a halt.



As with any industry, there will be some search firms that adhere to quality standards and some that do not. However, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken in recent years in terms of regulating and setting standards within the private search sector, and if conveyancing sceptics used personal search firms that adhere to the Search Code (with compliance inspected by the Property Codes Compliance Board) and are members of the Council of Property Search Organisations, then I am confident their perceptions would change.



Fiona Hoyle, chairman, Council of Property Search Organisations