Searches

ladymarmalade222

Hi

Could anybody advise on the following please?

Our solicitor has just commenced Local Authority and Coal Mining Searches and has said an "alert" has shown for:

Ground Stability Search (£22.80)
Energy Exploration Search (£24.00)
Radion Risk Report (£5.00)

Also recommended:

Water Auth Drainage Search (£30.00)

Premium Environmental Search (£60.00)

Also it states they automatically take Environmental Indemnity Cover for £50.00 unless I instruct them otherwise.

I know nobody but the solicitor knows but are all of these really needed or just another add on and also do all these add more time on.

Many thanks in advance

xxx

marksoton

Without seeing your contract with your solicitor it's difficult to say. But i'd immediately bin the indemnity.

G_M

Do you know what each search is for? If not, google them.
Do you know the potential risks if you don't have the searches? (google)
How risk-averse are you?

ladymarmalade222

Well I have had a look at some risks like on the environment agency, no flood risk, the old landfill sites are some way from the property.

I just feel like you could go on forever with these searches but I just wanted to know if I am being "oversold" and did not like the bit where "environment indemnity cover" was applied for unless we say so in writing.

I know many on here have been through this over and over so would know if these are worth the paper they are written on or whether I could do something myself which is just as useful.

Many thanks

xx

davidmcn

Probably being oversold. I don't even know what an "energy exploration search" is - I would guess telling you where any buried utility pipes/cables lie, but that's usually only interesting if you're planning to do some digging (and even then aren't particularly accurate).

Radon (not "radion") and ground stability generally give you vague results similar to any other property in the area, you can probably look them up for yourself.

Drainage probably just tells you whether you're connected to the public drains, which in normal urban contexts is obvious.

I guess the environmental indemnity cover is insurance against contamination affecting your property, so either a waste of money or invaluable if you had to make a claim...

I wouldn't worry about ignoring them all though.