Sold House

bagpuss1974

Hi

We have sold our house subject to contract. The environment search has come back and the house could potentially be built on contaminated land or have it nearby

The solicitor has pointed out that we need to pay £180 for an insurance premium just in case.

I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this problem before, as we are not aware of any contaminated land nearby.

What happened did the sale still go through?

Doozergirl

If the £180 is enough to make the problem go away then just pay for it - that is basically what you are being told.

It's absurd that someone would even think of moving into a property build on contaminated land which really means the insurance is just to cover someone's back - there are thousands upon thousands of potentially contaminated sites that come up on these searches. My local authority say it's highly unlikely that the vast majority of them are affected - they know about the contaminated bits they need to in our district.

IMO Industrial history isn't that old that we don't know where most contaminants have been or might have been put. If it was a genuine concern, it would have been tested by now.

If you were buying then I'd tell you to speak to the local authority to have your mind put at rest, but you're selling so it's simply better to lump paying for the policy than starting a debate with them. What tends to panic buyers more than the initial findings is the fact that you might be hiding something!

jack_spratt_2

I think every case should be treated on its merits it depends if it is a recent build as the councils seem very hot on contaminated sites and would make it a condition of planning that precautions are put into place during building to protect future occupiers and to cover there own backs!! With Brown field sites being used more and more to build houses this will come up more in the future .

If it is a recent build you may be able to view planning documents at your planning department

As doozergirl has suggested if it oils the wheels of the sale just pay up and put it down to part of your moving costs if I was the purchaser I would not be too concerned

G_M

I agree that paying for the insurance is the easiest way to move forward, but I'd insist the payment is built into the Completion price, rather than paid up front. That way you avoid the possibility of paying for it and then have the sale fall through for some other reason or the buyer back out, leaving you out of pocket.

PasturesNew

Not sure if this will give you any clues, but worth a nosey:

1] Go here: http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?ep=maptopics&lang=_e
2] Type your postcode into the box on the left. Nothing appears to happen .. but ...
3] Click on each of the pictures in turn to see a map

bagpuss1974

Hi

Thanks for everyone for replying.

The buyers live over the road, I can't remember paying for this insurance policy when we bought the house 9 years ago.

Is this a new thing the environment search on a property, we are selling our house because if we didn't the house would be repossessed and to cover debts.

I have contact the solicitors today, and they said the buyers still want us to pay for it, as they are paying enough for the house already.

When we orginally put our house on the market it was valued at £130,000 in August and we have reduced it by £20,000 since then.

So I think they are getting a good deal because a house over the road has sold at the same price, and it hasn't got double glazing, new kitchen, bathroom and hasn't been decorated top to bottom like we have with our house.

Richard_Webster

Depending on how long ago the contamination is supposed to have happened the Council may have some information that could persuade the Environmental Search Company to change their view. Usually they say there is risk of contamination - sometimes the Council will have information that will be enough for them to consider the risk is not significant.