Local Authority Searches taking longer than expected

k8withan8

My partner and I are currently in the process of buying our first home, everything is pretty much done apart from the Local Authority Searches coming back. We are buying a house in Thurrock Council, the website states 10 days to get results back but our solicitor chased them and they said we can expect them back on 4th May which would make it six weeks since our solicitor applied for them. 

Has anyone else faced delays in getting back their Local Authority Searches? Very disheartening when everything else is done, and this is holding us up from exchanging/completing.

Caracal

Yep, I live in West Dorset and the LA searches are currently taking 55 working days - 11 weeks!

Absolute insanity. Especially when mortgages and surveys etc are all sorted...I feel your pain, it's so incredibly frustrating.

amandacat

My solicitor told me 28 working days which is just short of 6 weeks. They were due back Monday, I’ve chased today to see if they are back and waiting to hear.
I’m a bit twitchy because online it says my area is now 65 working days so I’m worried mine might take a few more weeks eek!
So yes lots of delays 

Brucema07

How do you find out the turnaround time for the local authority searches? I've looked on our council website but can't see anything! 

Indigo_and_Violet

We bought in Hackney. Massive cyberattack took all down all search infrastructure in October 2020. Full land searches still not available, they are currently processing partial land searches for requests from September 2020. So - it could be worse!

If it gets to the stage that the searches are delaying the purchase you can look at indemnity insurance as an alternative. It's not ideal (they can compensate for financial loss but not for loss of enjoyment) and you need permission from your lender, but its a possibility, particularly if you're worrying about a sale falling through or missing the SDLT holiday.  

 

k8withan8

Brucema07 said:

How do you find out the turnaround time for the local authority searches? I've looked on our council website but can't see anything! 

I went on the council website which stated 10 days, then went on the acumen website which told me a more realistic time frame

k8withan8

Indigo_and_Violet said:

We bought in Hackney. Massive cyberattack took all down all search infrastructure in October 2020. Full land searches still not available, they are currently processing partial land searches for requests from September 2020. So - it could be worse!

If it gets to the stage that the searches are delaying the purchase you can look at indemnity insurance as an alternative. It's not ideal (they can compensate for financial loss but not for loss of enjoyment) and you need permission from your lender, but its a possibility, particularly if you're worrying about a sale falling through or missing the SDLT holiday.  

 

Oh wow! Hopefully they sort yours out soon!

I'll definitely look into that, thank you!