Local Land Search

Graeme1978uk

Hi all,

We are due to exchange contracts on our new build anytime now. We have ATE from HTB and are waiting for the searches. Environmental and Drainage are done, we are just waiting for the local one.

I spoke with the developer today, and they said they could probably (the following is what I think she said...) indemnify the local search? Any idea what that means?

MWT

There is a good summary here of the pros & cons of doing this.

https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/local-authority-search-indemnity-insurance-8452

I wouldn't personally recommend it on a new build purchase, but check the link and see what you think...

Also need to consider if your lender would accept it anyway...

Graeme1978uk

I put it to my Solicitor to ask could he explain it to me, but he responded to say to leave everything with him as he's today agreed a completion date of 30th with Developer's solicitor, so perhaps the local search has come back and the Developer's site office weren't aware.

davidmcn

MWT said:

I wouldn't personally recommend it on a new build purchase, but check the link and see what you think...

Also need to consider if your lender would accept it anyway...

Lenders are generally happy with insurance. No idea why solicitors don't go for it more often as an option given the delays, and the rarity of searches throwing up anything problematic.

I don't really see the point of a local search on a newbuild property anyway - the planning process flushes out anything that might have been an issue.