Council search delayed a month - anything we can do?

SpendsLikeAnAubergine

ktf2020 said:

Thanks all. The search is being done by a private provider but it's all being managed through our solicitor. I think it is a council issue (rather than an issue with the provider). Somehow they're getting away with just updating their website with 'Due to the current sheer volume of personal search requests, together with the Gateway Building Covid 19 restrictions, personal searches are taking about eight weeks for a booking.' It's pretty annoying they can do that when the government is pushing everyone to buy houses asap with the stamp duty holiday!

I will look into search insurance...

That is a bit harsh on councils. Central government hasn't given local councils any extra money to deal with all the increased demand for land searches. The councils have a huge increase in demand and the same number of staff with the relevant skills. Obviously it is going to take them longer to respond. You then add Covid-19 safety measures on top and everything slows down.

Why don't they recruit more staff? They will earn more search fees in the short term but that doesn't allow them to recruit more staff. When demand drops dramatically at the end of the stamp duty holiday, all these new staff would have little to do and still need their salaries paid by the taxpayer.