The local and environmental searches are two separate searches.

The local search is addressed to the local authority and will reveal the planning history of the property; whether the road outside is maintainable at public expense; whether there are any local land charges registered (did you know that if the local authority carries out pest control at the property and you fail to pay, it can register a charge against the property a bit like a mortgage?); whether there are special restrictions on kind of building work you can undertake at the property and other fascinating matters which may directly affect your use and enjoyment (lawyerspeak for "value") of the property.

The Environmental search is a relatively new one. Its main purpose is to assess the risk that the property may be designated contaminated land by the local authority. If the property has been built on or near a former industrial site or a site such as a hospital then this can be a serious risk. If the property is designated as contaminated then it is very bad news: the owner at the time becomes responsible for de-contaminating the land at his/her own cost.

The search will also assess the risk of flooding or subsidence based on the geology of the area; and there is interesting information on such matters as the proximity of radon gas. The search does not involve a physical inspection of the property but is a postcode database search.

If you are purchasing with a mortgage, your lender will require these searches. If you don't require mortgage finance, then they aren't actually compulsory but it's prudent to have them. The cost is around £200, give or take £50 or so, depending on the location of the property.

---

Back to Why does it take so Long?

Back to conveyancing

Back to homepage

© Buglear Bate & Co