About HW Library

The HW Library is the essential learning resource on property searches for anyone with an interest. All in one place.

Conveyancing text books typically give searches 2-3 pages on such a vital part of the conveyancing process. Anyone wishing to find out more will mostly be pointed in the direction of various websites with an interest in promoting one school of thought or another. Mostly, none form the very experienced angle of the private search market.

The conveyancing search industry has changed so much in the past decades that it was time for a resource where all the various angles of the trade are covered in one place. With a truthful and unbiased opinion, should it be helpful, when needed.

Between the Local Land Charges Act of 1974 and the advent of Environmental Reports and Drainage searches in the 1990s, nothing much changed. Forms were posted with cheques and all forms “in duplicate” (that means two copies, duplicated by the use of carbon paper, for our younger readers). As recently as 2007, huge envelopes packed with 30-40 page reports were being posted by search firms.