Breckland Home Buyers Face Delays Due to Council IT Problem

Breckland Council’s planning went sideways last year. A software update took way longer than planned, creating a big pile of late applications. Land searches also got delayed, and these searches matter when you buy a home.

The council denies stopping searches entirely. They said they are working through a large backlog and that the delays started five months ago. Land searches are needed for mortgages, where local councils play a key information role.

Breckland Council checks for property issues and sees if a building faces restrictions. The system switch caused these search delays.

One councillor, Roger Atterwill, spoke up, saying people are losing their patience. He mentioned buyers and sellers are stressed.

The council services towns like Thetford, Swaffham, and Attleborough. Atterwill said the council is trying hard, and the department is super busy now. He added that the staff are under heavy pressure.

Atterwill said there were 100 late cases last month. The council won’t say how many remain, but a council spokesman responded to rumors. They said they are still doing land searches.

The council claims progress this year. Over 173 searches closed in two months, and most requests get a response in 25 days. They added more staff to planning services, and the council hopes to catch up shortly.