The first group of local authorities have started providing records for the launch of a new national Local Land Charges (LLC) register.

The 26 local authorities are working with HM Land Registry to migrate their LLC records to the digital register. It hopes to launch the new service later this year, benefitting up to 125,000 homebuyers in 2018/19.

The new digital register aims to eliminate regional variations in the speed, format and costs of LLC searches.

Chief executive and chief land registrar Graham Farrant said: ‘HM Land Registry has a track record for modernising land-related systems and is very pleased to be taking on the delivery of the national Local Land Charges digital register.

‘This is a significant step forward in the Government’s ambition to make the house-buying process simpler, faster and cheaper.’