Property searches (also known as conveyancing searches) are enquiries that discover additional information about a property you plan to purchase.
As part of the home-buying process, we will carry out a variety of ‘searches’ with the local authority and other parties.
The conveyancing searches should be completed and approved before you exchange contracts and legally commit yourself to purchasing the property, as they may highlight planning or structural issues that could either affect the value of the property, or result in additional costs further down the line.
There are over 340 local authorities across the UK. Searches are managed differently depending on your local authority so turnaround time can take between 48 hours to several weeks for your search results to be returned.
Local searches can vary due to the method in which your local authority return search results. For example, if you receive your search results electronically via an online portal or email this will be much quicker than by post.
Many local authorities only have small teams working in the Land Charges departments, so during busy periods it could take longer for them to return your search results.
The LLC1 results will tell you the following information about your property:
Any future development plans that could affect your property are assessed by CON29. The CON29 results are broken down into two different parts (required and optional). The required results will reveal:
It is also recommended for first-time buyers to apply to the local water company responsible for the property, asking for confirmation that the sewers, drains and piping are maintained by them. A water and drainage search carried out by us will also highlight the proximity of the property to public sewers and whether the property has a sewer running within the boundaries of the property.
An environmental search identifies whether the previous land use of the property creates a potential environmental risk or is risk-free. This type of search will highlight issues including:
In certain cases, we may recommend carrying out the following non-routine searches, depending on the location of the property:
If a property borders on common land, a village green or is in a rural area, a search is recommended under the Commons Registration Act 1965. This property search should also be carried out when purchasing agricultural land.
A mining search is required if the property is situated in an area of previous or current mining history and is at risk of being built on unstable ground. This search is largely carried out for the benefit of the mortgage lender.
This is a search that should be taken when dealing with unregistered land, detailing any bankruptcy proceedings attributed to the owner of the land. It will also highlight if there are any restrictions on the use of land, estate contracts and mortgages.
All parochial church councils in England and Wales were given until October 2013 to identify and register any land bound to chancel repair liability. This information is kept by the Land Registry and stored on the Title Register database, so if you buy or inherit a property and you live within the parishes of the church, it is worth checking if you are liable to contribute towards the cost of repairs to the church.
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