Claiming Back Search Fees

Verb

Hi


I had to recently pull out of a purchase on the proviso of my local buildings control department, due to the property not meeting building regs. There was a staircase that descended from the loft into the small bedroom, we where advised that any staircases from the loft area should have two independent egress routes.


I was told that when I find another property and complete the sale I should contact the original estate agents for the sale we pulled out of to claim back our search fees.


I'm a little reluctant to contact them without having all the information I may need.


Do all estate agents offer this as part of a government / national scheme, or is this something they opt in or out of.

gettingtheresometime

Must admit I've never heard of this before so is it a one-off goodwill payment ?


Who told you that you could claim back search fees?

Guest101

Ye those fees aren't typically reclaimable

Surrey_EA

Verb wrote: »

I was told that when I find another property and complete the sale I should contact the original estate agents for the sale we pulled out of to claim back our search fees.




Do all estate agents offer this as part of a government / national scheme, or is this something they opt in or out of.

I've never heard of this before. Do you have a link to the details of this scheme?

Rambosmum

Yep, never heard of this. I think those fees are lost!

Ithaca

On what basis are the Estate Agents liable for your search fees?? Because they marketed a house you eventually decided not to buy? That's not their fault!

You made the decision not to proceed with the purchase due to the loft access - another buyer might have simply blocked up the stairs or kept it as storage. Even if the house was marketed with the loft as an extra bedroom there will almost certainly be some kind of disclaimer on the listing saying it's up to buyers to check the details themselves (which is what you've done).

And it would have been your solicitors who arranged the searches, not the estate agent - you could have waited until you'd completed all building regs enquiries before going ahead with the searches.

Frustrating for you but not sure how the estate agent are responsible.

Verb

I'm not disagreeing with anything that has been said.

It was my conveyer who told me this when I pulled out and stayed with them for the next property. I have just emailed them to see why I was told this.

aneary

I was told by my solicitor that if I found another property in 6 months the searching company would carry the new searches for free is that what you are referring to?

eddddy

Could this be what your conveyancer said:

If somebody else decides to purchase the property you've pulled-out from, you could get the cost of your searches back, by selling the searches on to the new buyer. (So tell the EA to pass on your details to the new buyer.)

But searches are only 'valid' for 6 months, so the timescale is limited.

steampowered

The faff of selling on searches to another buyer is probably not worth it. We aren't talking about an enormous amount of money here. I don't know whether "sold on" searches would even be accepted by a buyer's mortgage lender.

Verb

Hi
Just an update.


My original search fee's where refunded to me this morning.


As I haven't moved house in over 10 years and things do change when it comes to moving I assume the information I am give as correct.


And there where