For the purposes of these terms and conditions any references to ‘the company’ means Complete
Conveyancing Services Limited T/A The Search Bureau
1. The company provides information and services relating to property searches carried out on
properties in England and Wales only.
2. In providing search reports and services Complete Conveyancing Services Limited T/A The Search
Bureau will comply with the Search Code.
3. Search requests must include full postal address, location plan and the appropriate fee. Should no
location plan be included, the company will not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in
the results of the search.
4. All of the company’s third party organisations and search agencies work to the same Contract &
Service Level Agreements and subscribe to the Search Code.
5. All searches are carried out by trained and competent Search Agents using reasonable care and
skill so that all interested parties can rely on the report.
6. The information contained in the Local Authority Search Report has been obtained by a personal
inspection of public and other registers made available by the local authority and any other relevant
organisations in the public domain. The company accepts no responsibility for revealing incomplete
or inaccurate information, where the error is a direct result of defective source material. Whilst the
firm is not responsible for errors arising out of defective source material this risk is covered by the
specialist search insurance as described in paragraph 16 of these T&Cs as attached to the search
report
7. In the event that certain Con29 Part 1 questions cannot be answered due to Local Authority or
other restrictions a note of the restriction and method of obtaining said answers will be included in
the report.
8. Where information has been sourced from additional sources, the company will inform you of
these sources within the report.
9. Where additional information forms an essential part of a search, it is the obligation of the client
to inform the company at the outset.
10. Where such information is readily available at no cost, (e.g. adopted sewers, public rights of way
etc.) it will be included within the results of a standard search with no charge.
11. Where such information is only available at an additional cost/time element, the company
undertakes to inform the client of any additional fees that may be chargeable for obtaining such
information up front.
12. Where the client requests ‘copy documents’ from the Local Authority, the company undertakes
to inform the client in advance of any additional fees chargeable for this service.
13. Where the client requests additional Con 29 Part II enquiries the company undertakes to inform
the client of any additional fees at the point of order.
14. The company aims to return all search results within five working days. However, this may not
always be feasible due to Local Authority appointment systems or other reasons outside of the
company’s control. The company will not accept liability for any loss, financial or otherwise, incurred
by the client, as a result of delayed search results.
15. Search Reports can be downloaded from our ordering system or requested via email. The
company does not provide hard copies free of charge.
16. The Insured should be aware that this search report has the benefit of a property specific
Insurance Policy as set out in the following pages of the report. The documentation should be read
thoroughly before any contact is made with the parties mentioned in order to ensure the Insured
does not render the Insurance Policy void or reduce a potential claim by their action. If the Insured
wishes to make a claim as per the attached property specific Insurance Policy, the Insured must
advise the insurance company in writing as soon as possible after becoming aware of any claim, or
circumstance which might entitle that Insured to make a claim under the policy. Please see policy
attached.
17. The company and any third party Search Agents liability will be limited to an amount not
exceeding £2 million in respect of any individual claim.
18. If the Client chooses not to disclose the value of the property in the order process, the company
will assume the value is less than £2 million. If the Client subsequently discovers that the property
value exceeds £2 million they must inform the company within 7 days of receipt of the Private Local
Authority Search report. The company reserves the right to charge the Client an additional premium
to cover the increased insurance risk.
19. Drainage information provided as part of the search report is taken from public sewer records
and only reveals the position of the nearest public sewers. No guarantee is given or implied that the
searched property is connected to the sewer identified. Clients are recommended to obtain a full
Water Report from the relevant Water Company.
20. Invoices and statements are submitted electronically. The company does not provide hard
copies.
21. Search Reports remain the property of the company until all agreed terms have been fulfilled.
22. The company reserves the right to withhold results until payment has been received.
23. All information held by the company is covered by the Data Protection Act.
24. Each search is deemed to be an individual contract governed by English Law.
25. The company maintains contractual relationships with clients and suppliers who are involved in
the Conveyancing process in the UK; To the knowledge of the company no person who; a.
Conducted the search b. Prepared the search report has any undeclared interest, personal or
business relationship with any persons involved in the sale of the property. The company cannot
accept any liability for failing to disclose these relationships where the involvement of any of the
parties in the transaction was not made known to the company at the time of compiling the search.
26. The companies’ complaints procedure is shown below. IMPORTANT CONSUMER PROTECTION
INFORMATION This search has been produced for Complete Conveyancing Services Limited T/A The
Search Bureau, Weirbank, Bray On Thames, SL6 2ED, 01628 260222, [email protected],
which is registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) as a subscriber to the Search
Code. The PCCB independently monitors how registered search firms maintain compliance with the
Code. The Search Code
• provides protection for homebuyers, sellers, estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage lenders
who rely on the information included in property search reports undertaken by subscribers on
residential and commercial property within the United Kingdom
• sets out minimum standards which firms compiling and selling search reports have to meet
• promotes the best practice and quality standards within the industry for the benefit of consumers
and property professionals
• enables consumers and property professionals to have confidence in firms which subscribe to the
code, their products and services.
By giving you this information, the search firm is confirming that they keep to the principles of the
Code. This provides important protection for you. Terms & Conditions and Important Consumer
Protection Information Page 15 of 23 THE CODE’S CORE PRINCIPLES Firms which subscribe to the
Search Code will:
• display the Search Code logo prominently on their search reports
• act with integrity and carry out work with due skill, care and diligence
• at all times maintain adequate and appropriate insurance to protect consumers
• conduct business in an honest, fair and professional manner
• handle complaints speedily and fairly
• ensure that products and services comply with industry registration rules and standards and
relevant laws
• monitor their compliance with the Code
COMPLAINTS If you have a query or complaint about your search, you should raise it directly with
the search firm, and if appropriate ask for any complaint to be considered under their formal
internal complaints procedure. If you remain dissatisfied with the firm’s final response, after your
complaint has been formally considered, or if the firm has exceeded the response timescales, you
may refer your complaint for consideration under The Property Ombudsman scheme (TPOs). The
Ombudsman can award up to £5,000 to you if the Ombudsman finds that you have suffered actual
financial loss and/or aggravation, distress or inconvenience as a result of your search provider failing
to keep to the Code.
Please note that all queries or complaints regarding your search should be directed to your search
provider in the first instance, not to TPOs or to the PCCB.
TPOS CONTACT DETAILS The Property Ombudsman scheme Milford House 43-55 Milford Street
Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2BP Tel: 01722 333306 Fax: 01722 332296 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tpos.co.uk
You can get more information about the PCCB from www.propertycodes.org.uk
PLEASE ASK YOUR SEARCH PROVIDER IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE SEARCH CODE
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE If you want to make a complaint, we will:
• Acknowledge it within 5 working days of receipt.
• Normally deal with it fully and provide a final response, in writing, within 20 working days of
receipt.
• Keep you informed by letter, telephone or e-mail, as you prefer, if we need more time.
• Provide a final response, in writing, at the latest within 40 working days of receipt.
• Liaise, at your request, with anyone acting formally on your behalf. Complaints should be sent to:
for Complete Conveyancing Services Limited T/A The Search Bureau, Weirbank, Bray On Thames, SL6
2ED [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with our final response, or if we exceed the response timescales, you may
refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsman scheme (TPOs) The Property Ombudsman scheme
Milford House 43-55 Milford Street Salisbury, SP1 2BP Tel: 01722 333306 Email: [email protected]
We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman during an investigation and comply with his final
decision.
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