House Buying - Searches

JasonHand

Hi,

I'm currently in the process of buying a house and have just spoken with my solicitor regarding searches

They have informed me the property is going to be within 200m of a proposed light railway line. Now I've not even seen any plans for this. The solicitor have informed me they have informed the lender and the solicitor of the vendor.

Is this something I need to be concerned about?

Thanks very much

davidmcn

It depends how much you like light railways and how much closer than 200m it is, I would have thought? I presume it's some sort of extension to a tram network? In which case you'll probably find more details online. Nothing necessarily bad about it, might be a good thing if it means better transport links for you.

Thrugelmir

JasonHand wrote: »

Is this something I need to be concerned about?

You are the one living there potentially.

Suggest you obtain the plans then have a look on the ground.

JasonHand

davidmcn wrote: »

It depends how much you like light railways and how much closer than 200m it is, I would have thought? I presume it's some sort of extension to a tram network? In which case you'll probably find more details online. Nothing necessarily bad about it, might be a good thing if it means better transport links for you.

I think its one of these scenic railway type things. But I actually can't see anything online and I've not heard anything in the local newspapers / websites either.

But its not the sort of thing the lender would pull the plug on a mortgage then?

davidmcn

JasonHand wrote: »

But its not the sort of thing the lender would pull the plug on a mortgage then?

It's in searches largely because such things tend to come along with compulsory purchase orders, but unless it's going through your garden it's not going to make it unmortgageable. Might have an adverse effect on value if it's directly outside and causes disturbance / restricts parking etc.

chunkytfg

JasonHand wrote: »

I think its one of these scenic railway type things. But I actually can't see anything online and I've not heard anything in the local newspapers / websites either.

But its not the sort of thing the lender would pull the plug on a mortgage then?

Have you looked on the local planning authorities website? They normally have a way of searching for planning applications?

It has to be somewhere as your solicitor found it

JasonHand

chunkytfg wrote: »

Have you looked on the local planning authorities website? They normally have a way of searching for planning applications?

It has to be somewhere as your solicitor found it

Cheers for that. Just had a quick look but couldn't find anything. I'll have to check when I get home to see if I can find anything

JasonHand

davidmcn wrote: »

It's in searches largely because such things tend to come along with compulsory purchase orders, but unless it's going through your garden it's not going to make it unmortgageable. Might have an adverse effect on value if it's directly outside and causes disturbance / restricts parking etc.

Thanks again for your input. I certainly can't see how this proposed line could cause those things.

I'm just a bit paranoid.:o

Don1_Lawrence

Hi,

Hope you can help, buying a house in Essex, place called Hadleigh

All of the searches carried out, move date was the 23 March, vendors property fell though and they cannot view any new properties not until the self- isolation has lifted.

I’m asking searches valid for six months, will the council or government extend the searches from six months to nine months or longer

Look forward to your help

Don1_Lawrence

davidmcn

Don1_Lawrence said:

I’m asking searches valid for six months, will the council or government extend the searches from six months to nine months or longer

Think you misunderstand the process - the searches aren't a guarantee by the council etc that nothing new will happen in the next 6 months or whatever, they're just a snapshot of what the position was at the date they were issued. In theory, some disastrous statutory notice or planning application could be made the next day, nothing anybody can do about that (though your vendors should be telling you about anything they've been notified about).

The searches are always going to be a bit out of date, 6 months is just the normal period that buyers/lenders will take a view on. So it's up to you (and your lender) whether you want to update them (and I haven't heard of lenders relaxing their usual policies)..