House Searches - have they changed?

Debt_Free_Chick

Have a look at Sections 8, 9 & 10 of the guidance on the new Home Information Packs for more information about searches

clutton_2

Debt Free Chick - i had (perhaps mistakenly) thought that searches covered a few dozen feet around the property - and i had a discussion with my solicitor who said it was not possible to use the same searches for two houses next door but one to each other - i wanted to use the same searches for both purchases, but he would not ask the lender if they would accept that ? What is your view please ?

jamie304

We even had a 'chancel repair search' :rolleyes2

clutton_2

am just buying another property and my solicitor has sent me a lovely long list of searches i can ask for if i want to !! the lender will insist on some - we, as purchasers, can request others if we want - it all depends on your local area. there is nothing like talking to neighbours, going into the local pub asking "any houses fallen down in the last 50 yeas round here and if so why ?" !!!


local authority search
drainage and water search
environemental search
radon gas
commons registration
index map search
chancel repairs search
mining
brine
mineral

seven-day-weekend

clutton wrote:

Debt Free Chick - i had (perhaps mistakenly) thought that searches covered a few dozen feet around the property - and i had a discussion with my solicitor who said it was not possible to use the same searches for two houses next door but one to each other - i wanted to use the same searches for both purchases, but he would not ask the lender if they would accept that ? What is your view please ?

The Planning part of the Search covers only your building and land unless you pay an extra fee to cover extra (specified) land. I think the environmental and coal mining searches cover a certain radius around.

So in other words, the planning search won't show a planning application for a housing estate to be built on the playing fields at the back of your house unless an extra fee is paid and a search on that land specifically requested. And it will NEVER be able to tell you whether there is going to be such an application next week! (Because the application will not yet have been submitted). It can only show what is there on the day of the search.

I think Highways searches are similar.

Debt_Free_Chick

seven-day-weekend wrote:

So in other words, the planning search won't show a planning application for a housing estate to be built on the playing fields at the back of your house unless an extra fee is paid and a search on that land specifically requested. And it will NEVER be able to tell you whether there is going to be such an application next week! (Because the application will not yet have been submitted). It can only show what is there on the day of the search.

Many planning authorities now publish planning applications online and some allow you to search for all planning applications within a road or postcode. So you could check this out yourself (if your LPA offers this facility). However, this is not the same as the formal paid-for search ... it all depends how thorough you want to be and how much money you're prepared to spend.

Victoria_Falls

Local Searches have taken a more cost efficient and quicker route in recent years. At one time, the local authorities used to carry out the searches. An increase amount of local searches are carried out by Personal Search Companies. They can offer a quicker and considerably cheaper service that local authority. Around 50% of local searches are carried out by these firms and are approved by the majority of lenders. Searches have taken on a new dimension with new products that do offer the glossy photos and can tell you what details such as the crime level in a particular area you are moving into. These companies are very good, but only deal with solicitors. A good information website is https://www.crasearches.co.uk