How long do searches take?

gimpymoo

My solicitor advised me 3 weeks?

Is this the case or are they trying to fob me off?

Many Thanks.

lilyann1

Our searches took 4 weeks,some can take up to 7 weeks I am told

aderbyshirelad

Our searches took three weeks. It's not all down to your solicitor though. We kept track of what they (told us) they were doing on-line and got a bit annoyed by how long such seemingly simple things seemed to take. However, it's really dependent on how quickly councils etc. respond to your solicitor's requests.

Try and keep calm. I can say that now as we move into our first home tomorrow - (god willing).

chivers1977

ours are 5-7 days. I believe if they go through an agency it is quicker than going direct to the council

Victoria_Falls

Local Authority searches should take between 5-10 days. This is if your solicitor has used a "personal search company". These are becoming increasingly used as they are faster and a great deal cheaper. They account for about 50% of searches now. If your solicitor has gone straight to the council, the time taken can vary depending on the council, anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 weeks!!! The best thing is to keep pestering your solicitor for an update!

black-saturn

I've always wondered why you have to get a solicitor to do a search when the info is readily available and free off the net. It is legal to do your own search?

Debt_Free_Chick

black-saturn wrote:

I've always wondered why you have to get a solicitor to do a search when the info is readily available and free off the net.

Could you explain how and where please?

Victoria_Falls

Most of the information is freely available to the general public, planning information, development plans, highway records etc. A charge is payable to the local land charges to check the land charges register. So in hindsight you could do it yourself. The problem comes with the collation of the data and intepretation of the information. There is a need for the solicitor in this case. I think that law states that you have to produce the information in a certain format. There also comes the liability issue and indemnity insurance if the councils records are incorrect or whether you collect the wrong information.

clutton_2

you can do a mini-personal search yourself - go to your local councils offices and ask them which searches info you can collect yourself, some councils charge about £15 and you then spend an hour or two trundling round various offices, Transport, Planning, Council's Solicitors offices etc etc. But you will still not have all the info required by a lender for mortgage purposes. I have done this prior to an auction when i was researching a property if the auction pack was not particularly helpful

JennyW_2

my solicitor used a personal search company and they were very quick however our buyer's solicitor is quite old school and went through the local authorities - it took 7 weeks :eek:

goldbyron

My recent searches took 3-4 weeks. Good luck!