HW Conveyancing Searches

What HW Conveyancing Searches does

HW Conveyancing Searches (legal entity: Hants-Wight Conveyancing Searches Limited) is a specialist UK provider of property search reports serving conveyancing solicitors and law firms across England and Wales. The company traces its origins to 1987, has been owned by Managing Director Andrew Prismall since 2007, and operates from a single office in Portsmouth, Hampshire with a team of approximately 10 people. Its core products comprise Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS) compiled in-house covering LLC1 and CON29R information, supplemented by environmental, planning and flood reports (sourced via Groundsure, Landmark and DevAssist), drainage and water searches (CON29DW), energy reports, chancel searches via ChancelCheck, and cybercrime/AML services through a Credas Technologies partnership.

The underlying technology is an online ordering platform with a client portal for registration, pre-configured search packs, order tracking, ETA confirmation and email delivery of reports, complemented by a Digital Property LogBooks service delivered through a 2024 partnership with Chimni that provides co-branded client-facing property documentation repositories. National coverage across all Local Authority areas is delivered through the IPSA network of local search providers, while HW maintains direct client relationships without call centres. The business holds Search Code membership, SRA-regulated CPD training provider status, and £5 million specialist search insurance, exceeding the £2 million Search Code minimum.

Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis for individual searches and reports, with payment collected after all searches are received and flexible billing terms (e.g., £5+VAT monthly for Credas, £13.50+VAT per Lawyer Checker check). The go-to-market is direct B2B to conveyancing firms via the online portal, named account management, and professional community channels including free CPD seminars, webinars, PPA events and Law Society sponsorship. The company has reported no Search Code complaints in over 11 years. No external investors, parent company, or funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

HW Conveyancing Searches

Legal name

Hants-Wight Conveyancing Searches Limited

Website

https://hwconveyancingsearches.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UK specialist conveyancing search provider serving solicitors and law firms across England and Wales with regulated local authority, environmental, drainage, water, energy, AML, and chancel search reports, plus digital property logbooks via Chimni partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conveyancing Search Services

NAICS

Title Abstract and Settlement Offices (541191)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJAOAB

Title Search & Examination

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Transaction Services (Escrow, Title & Closing Coordination)

Keywords

• Conveyancing searches
• Property due diligence
• Local authority searches
• Environmental risk reports
• AML compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conveyancing Search Reports: Transaction-based fees for individual searches and reports including local authority searches, environmental reports, drainage/water searches, energy reports, chancel searches, and cybercrime/AML services. Payment collected after all searches received.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HW Conveyancing Searches compiles and delivers regulated property search reports for the UK conveyancing market, primarily serving solicitors and law firms handling residential and commercial property transactions. Their portfolio includes Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS), environmental/planning/flood reports, drainage and water searches (CON29DW), energy reports, chancel searches, and cybercrime/AML compliance services. Orders are placed through an online portal with national coverage provided through the IPSA network of local search agents while maintaining direct named client relationships from their Hampshire base.

Product overview

HW Conveyancing Searches is a specialist provider of conveyancing searches to the legal industry, offering a portfolio of search products and reports. The core offering comprises Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS) covering all of England and Wales, supplemented by environmental/planning/flood reports, drainage and water searches (CON29DW), energy reports, and cybersecurity services including Anti-Money Laundering screening and Lawyer Checker verification. The company provides an online ordering platform with a client portal where orders can be placed and managed. Optional add-on services include Digital Property Logbooks powered by Chimni for client communication throughout the property lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regulated Local Authority Searches (RLAS) Comprehensive local authority searches covering all areas in England and Wales, containing full LLC1 and CON29R information with CON29O and bespoke questions. Compiled in-house by expert agents with over 10 years search experience, bearing The Search Code accreditation and backed by £5 million specialist search insurance.
• Environmental, Planning and Flood Reports Environmental search reports from major providers including Groundsure, Landmark, DevAssist, and FCI, covering land contamination, flooding, ground stability, and planning risks. Reports include climate change assessments such as coastal erosion and ground shrink/swell risks.
• Drainage and Water Searches (CON29DW) Official CON29DW drainage searches confirming property connection to mains water supply and providing location, shape, date, depth and material information for all surrounding sewers and drains across any water authority in England and Wales.
• Energy Reports Energy reports revealing planned or existing energy generation installations or energy extraction within 25km of a property. Available in both residential and commercial versions, compiled by Groundsure or Landmark.
• Cybercrime and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Services to protect against cybercrime in property transactions, including Anti-Money Laundering screening with real-time platform assistance for EU4MLD compliance, and digital onboarding via Credas Technologies partnership.
• Chancel Searches with ChancelCheck Instant, low-cost chancel repair liability screening report using historical parish boundary data, GIS mapping techniques and Inland Revenue Index information to identify potential church chancel repair liability.
• Lawyer Checker Verification service allowing solicitors and conveyancers to verify law firms on the other side of a transaction, checking for history of conveyancing transactions or potential fraud risk before transferring client funds.
• Digital Property Logbooks Secure online tool provided through Chimni partnership allowing clients to manage their home purchase and future sale digitally, with co-branding options, categorised searches, planning histories, security PIN numbers, and project management for property conversions.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ChimnicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Partnership to provide digital property logbooks containing searches, helping conveyancers build long-term digital relationships with clients. HW was first search company to offer Property LogBooks on price list in 2025. Chimni provides co-branded logbooks with searches already categorised and filed.
• Credas TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationSpecial partnership offering Credas digital onboarding and AML software used in most main systems. HW offers full Credas customer experience when registering through them at £5 plus VAT with no upfront fees.
• IPSA (Independent Property Search Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIPSA network of like-minded local experts enables HW to provide truly national service while maintaining Hampshire base.
• GroundsuremajorTechnology or IntegrationLeading UK environmental search company providing comprehensive, easy-to-read environmental search reports with colour coded risk ratings, pass/next steps indicators, and climate change assessments.
• LandmarkmajorTechnology or IntegrationLandmark Legal provides environmental and location-based risk information to residential and commercial property sectors, supporting legal and conveyancing professionals in property due diligence.
• The Search CodecoreOthersIndustry accreditation ensuring quality, transparency, accountability, and customer care standards. HW has enhanced £5million insurance (vs £2million minimum) and has not had complaint in over 11 years.
• Lawyer CheckermajorTechnology or IntegrationService allowing solicitors and conveyancers to verify law firms on other side of transaction, reducing risk of fraud when transferring client funds during property transactions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Landmark Information Group: Major UK provider of environmental, planning, flood, and conveyancing search reports, including the Landmark Legal brand. Both a partner (HW resells Landmark reports) and a competitor for end-customer relationships.
• SearchFlow: UK conveyancing search platform providing local authority, environmental, drainage, water, and chancel reports to legal professionals. Competes head-to-head with HW on regulated search products.
• Index Property Information: UK personal search and conveyancing data provider serving solicitors and lenders. Now part of Dye & Durham but operates as a distinct brand competing with HW in regulated local authority and environmental searches.
• Groundsure: Specialist UK environmental search provider offering contaminated land, flooding, ground stability, and planning risk reports. Overlaps directly with HW's environmental/planning/flood product line; both partner and partial competitor.
• tm group: UK conveyancing search provider offering personal local authority, environmental, drainage, water, and chancel searches to solicitors and conveyancers. Closest direct competitor with overlapping regulated search products and lender acceptance model.
• Conveyancing Data Services: Specialist UK conveyancing search provider offering regulated local authority and environmental reports to the legal sector, with a comparable national delivery model and similar lender-acceptance positioning.
• Hippo Legal Services: UK provider of conveyancing searches including personal local authority, environmental, drainage, and chancel reports to solicitors and licensed conveyancers. Competes in the same regulated search category.
• Ardent Legal: UK conveyancing search provider offering local authority, environmental, drainage, water, and chancel reports. Comparable scale and customer profile to HW.

Emerging players

• Lawyer Checker: UK legal verification service that checks conveyancing firms on the other side of a transaction for fraud risk — both an HW product partner and an emerging adjacent provider of pre-completion verification services to conveyancers.

Broad incumbents

• Dye & Durham: Canadian-listed legal technology and conveyancing platform with UK operations following its acquisitions of tm group and Index Property Information. Provides integrated search, e-conveyancing, and legal workflow tools to law firms, directly overlapping HW's conveyancer customer base and search product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hwconveyancing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hw-conveyancing-searches

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HW Conveyancing Searches