How long are searches valid for?

melonpan

Hi

Does anyone know how long the legal searches and land searches are valid for? Is it 3 months or 6 months?

Thanks
Melonpan

alared

3 months and if you don`t need a mortgage,you don`t need a search.

leo5000

if you mean how long will lenders accept searches for, the counil of mortgage lenders state:

All searches except where there is a priority period must not be more than six months old at completion.

what specifically do you mean by 'legal search' ? and by land search i presume you mean the local authority search?

foolishqueen

I believe it is 6 months. I am in the process of buying a property and am able to buy the searches done by the previous buyer who pulled out of the purchase at the last minute!

My conveyancer said they were valid for 6 months, and I could get some idemnity insurance to cover myself if required (not sure about the last bit though!)

Robert_Sterling

My local planning office handles 2,500 planning applications per annum.
The day after you do a search about 7 new planning applications will be received and 7 more each day after that on average.

So you are at risk. Might be a good idea to search again prior to exchange of contracts. My assumption is that one does the search for one's own benefit NOT because the lender requires it.

mrsc_4

I also thought it was 6 months as my best friend had problems with the property she brought being dragged out and the searches expired just before completion.