Do I need an environmental search done and how much should I pay?

hairdye

Hi all

I am in the process of buying a house, ftb. At the start of last week I instructed my solicitor to start the 'searches' on the property, and I paid him £120. I rang him today, he wasn't there but his assistant told me they are due back any day.

I have now recieved a letter from them saying they have recieved some paperwork from the vendors, including information on some underpinning work due to subsidence that has been done on a small extension in the 90's. I have read through it all and it included all information from the council saying the work is ok, building regs are ok etc. My solicitor has suggested I have an environmental search at a cost of £150. I am not really clear on what this is, and why it wouldn't have been included in the first batch of 'searches'?

I am happy to pay but I just wanted a little more info on why the information on subsidence would lead the solicitor to suggest another search? The house we are buying is an early 1900 mid terrace stone property.

Any help or guidance on where to loof for info would be greatly recieved

tux900

An Environmental Search is, as the name suggests, a search performed to discover previous/current environmentally-related issues surrounding the property.

One aspect related to your situation is previous use of the site e.g. mining, mineral extraction, landfill, etc. Anything really which could be a potential contributer to the subsidence.

Of course, it is not necessarilly conclusive however it can at the very least rule things out and give a better understanding about the situation.

The cost for these are around £40 and, as a disbursement, ought really not to be attracting any markup from your solicitor. If you wish them to do any additional work as a result of the findings then that's a different story, however that would be quoted seperately if/when that happens.

The reason it was not included as part of your original searches is that it is entirely optional.

Ask your solicitor why he is charging £150 for something which you believe ought to be cost a lot less.

Mathew

hairdye

thanks for the quick reply. I had a quick look online and there seem to be a variety of searches that come under the umbrella of environmental searches, such as ground stability, flood risk etc so I am guessing he is planning to do more than just the ground stability one. I have rang the office but they couldnt help and my solicitor is out of the office today so I will email him and ask for a breakdown, hopefully I will hear back from him tomorrow!

tux900

hairdye wrote: »

thanks for the quick reply. I had a quick look online and there seem to be a variety of searches that come under the umbrella of environmental searches, such as ground stability, flood risk etc

That's right - it usually covers them all (for the same £40). I only mentioned the aspects that would likely have an effect on subsidence.

For what it's worth I've just dug ours out - it is around 20 pages and covers at least a dozen different aspects such as flooding, previous use, radon gas, radioactivity, local industry, landfill, mining, water discharge, etc. It cost £36 via the solicitor.

Mathew

hairdye

I see, ok thanks, well I will email him now and hope he gets back to me tomorrow, I want the searches done but it doen seem like a lot! It's just frustrating because it will no doubt add another week on to everything, I want to get moving! thanks for your help!

hairdye

just spoke to my solicitor, and it's £50 for the search not £150, phew!

tux900

That's good news. I'd have it done if I were you given the circumstances. Chances are it won't bring anything up but remember that's a good thing, not a waste of money as some people might interpret!

Mathew