While the website itself is barely ok (only ok, since almost all of the properties feature on other websites anyway), I've concluded it's a pretty nifty scam on the payment front.

They charge a subscription fee, and the wording for the option I chose was as follows: "Diamond: The Diamond service offers 6 months access to the ex-localauthority.com property database as well as access to the 'my alerts' facility, which is particularly useful for homebuyers and investors. Diamond package costs: £15 per month and set up fee £10."

Well guess what folks, they took the full £100 in one go out of my account - this really hacked me off, because a) I have a tight budget and b) this is NOT what the website stated - i.e., false advertising. I immediately phoned my bank and tried to stop the amount going out - no luck, and opted to change my account details etc just in case they decided to take more - a real inconvenience, and unwanted stress!

Note that I sent emails to all the email addresses they feature (no response), and tried to contact them via their 'contact' tab - however, on hitting the submit button, an unknown IP address error message was thrown up, and when I checked out the website, it turns out the actual IP address is somewhere in Germany. I even tried to send a fax to the fax number they feature...guess what... the number was constantly engaged (or possibly just a dead line) and I couldn't get the fax sent through.

I'm through giving them the benefit of the doubt. Stay away from this website.