What searches to do?

luciemanc85

Hello,
My partner and I are currently buying a property. We are initially cash buyers, but are planning to 're-mortgage' (just mortgage in this case) in 6 months time when my partner will have been in his job long enough for us to get a decent mortgage.
Our solicitor has asked us to confirm what searches we want them to carry out. I have done some research, and it seems that any searches carried out now will only be valid for 6 months and will thus have (just!) expired by the time we get a mortgage.
The house is a traditional 1920s semi in a large residential estate. I have done some brief research into the area and it is not a mining area and there seems to be no flood risk. What searches would you recommend us doing at this stage (bearing in mind we will have to shell out for searches again in 6 months)? I believe that any search is only compulsory at this stage for the mortgage - is this correct?
Thanks in advance,
Lucie

timmyt

official local authority from the council, and drainage and water (CON29DW). chancel as it is so cheap and environemntal too.

when remortgage, take out cheapsearch indemnity insurance via your lawyer.

good luck OP

Richard_Webster

Whilst I agree with the main thrust of TimmyT's post (getting an indemnity policy when you remortgage) I would be interested as to why he thinks that a drainage and water search is a must. I'm not saying that we should never do them and I actually do do them in most cases because they give information, but I offer clients the option of not doing it.

What is critical that TimmyT feels makes such a search essential? Is there going to be nay information in such a search that might make a lender change its mind about proceeding?

Tigger-Roo

Doesn't your solicitor have any advice on which searches would be the most important ones needed?

timmyt

Richard_Webster wrote: »

Whilst I agree with the main thrust of TimmyT's post (getting an indemnity policy when you remortgage) I would be interested as to why he thinks that a drainage and water search is a must. I'm not saying that we should never do them and I actually do do them in most cases because they give information, but I offer clients the option of not doing it.

What is critical that TimmyT feels makes such a search essential? Is there going to be nay information in such a search that might make a lender change its mind about proceeding?

sorry if you didn't follow...I will add three extra words I thought were obvious as OP had asked fiirst about a purchase, then second about a mortgage:

for a purchase = official local authority from the council, and drainage and water (CON29DW). chancel as it is so cheap and environemntal too.

when remortgage, take out cheap search indemnity insurance via your lawyer.

Richard_Webster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Webster
Whilst I agree with the main thrust of TimmyT's post (getting an indemnity policy when you remortgage) I would be interested as to why he thinks that a drainage and water search is a must. I'm not saying that we should never do them and I actually do do them in most cases because they give information, but I offer clients the option of not doing it.

What is critical that TimmyT feels makes such a search essential? Is there going to be nay information in such a search that might make a lender change its mind about proceeding?
sorry if you didn't follow...I will add three extra words I thought were obvious as OP had asked fiirst about a purchase, then second about a mortgage:

for a purchase = official local authority from the council, and drainage and water (CON29DW). chancel as it is so cheap and environemntal too.

I did follow. I realised that you (TimmyT) were talking about a purchase when you mentioned a water and drainage search - I'm just wondering what there could be in the result of such a search that would be so vital and critical that it would have to be reported to a lender and might affect their decision to lend. I accept that in some situations such a search does give further useful informaiton for a buyer, but e.g. because it does not show the routes of connecting private drains and private sewers it is not as useful as it could be.

I'd be interested in your comments.

timmyt

Richard_Webster wrote: »

I did follow. I realised that you (TimmyT) were talking about a purchase when you mentioned a water and drainage search - I'm just wondering what there could be in the result of such a search that would be so vital and critical that it would have to be reported I wasn't talking about Reporting to a Lender and I always try not to to a lender and might affect their decision to lend. If it shows the house or an extension built over a mains, for example, but on a purchase the water search is usual and really for the Buyer's information yet for that same reason, as I would think twice about buying if a mains was under my house - water. The pressure of a water main is that of a fire hydrant (like in the movies when a cars hits it and the water shoots in the air) and no utility company would consent to you building over one of them I accept that in some situations such a search does give further useful informaiton for a buyer, but e.g. because it does not show the routes of connecting private drains and private sewers it is not as useful as it could be.

I'd be interested in your comments.

I see, well a suggestion above perhaps:)

G_M

Surely the consideration should be what searches are critical/informative for the OP in terms of their purchase? Those should be done now, and ignored if not relevant.

As to the subsequent mortgage, cross that bridge when you come to it. IF the lender insists on additional ones, or IF they say the previous ones are too old, then do those at that point.

But doing a search for the mortgage and finding out some critical info in 6 months is a bit late - you've already bought the property.

So much depends on the property, and the extent of the OP's knowledge of the area. It could be perfectly obvious, for example, that the property is connected to public drains. If so, why do the search? If the lender later insists, well, so be it....

timmyt

G_M wrote: »

Surely the consideration should be what searches are critical/informative for the OP in terms of their purchase? Those should be done now, and ignored if not relevant.

As to the subsequent mortgage, cross that bridge when you come to it. IF the lender insists on additional ones, or IF they say the previous ones are too old, then do those at that point.

But doing a search for the mortgage and finding out some critical info in 6 months is a bit late - you've already bought the property.

So much depends on the property, and the extent of the OP's knowledge of the area. It could be perfectly obvious, for example, that the property is connected to public drains. If so, why do the search? If the lender later insists, well, so be it....

you aren't one of those lawyers who simply replies on a copy of a water account are you......:eek:

Richard_Webster

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Webster
I did follow. I realised that you (TimmyT) were talking about a purchase when you mentioned a water and drainage search - I'm just wondering what there could be in the result of such a search that would be so vital and critical that it would have to be reported I wasn't talking about Reporting to a Lender and I always try not to to a lender and might affect their decision to lend. If it shows the house or an extension built over a mains, for example, but on a purchase the water search is usual and really for the Buyer's information yet for that same reason, as I would think twice about buying if a mains was under my house - water. The pressure of a water main is that of a fire hydrant (like in the movies when a cars hits it and the water shoots in the air) and no utility company would consent to you building over one of them I accept that in some situations such a search does give further useful informaiton for a buyer, but e.g. because it does not show the routes of connecting private drains and private sewers it is not as useful as it could be.

I'd be interested in your comments.
I see, well a suggestion above perhaps

Yes, I accept that's a reasonable argument - and perhaps also - though less potentially dramatic - checking that the seller's building does not go over a public sewer.

G_M

timmyt wrote: »

you aren't one of those lawyers who simply replies on a copy of a water account are you......:eek:

I'm guessing that as usual you're having difficulty with your keyboard Timmy: 'replies' or 'relies' ? :rotfl:

And no, I'm not one of those lawyers. In fact, as you'd know if you read my posts, I'm not a lawyer at all.