Is 195 plus VAT a lot for an Environmental Search?

jez9999

During my property buying paperwork I was asked whether I wanted certain searches, one of which was an Environmental Search. It was 195 + VAT! Isn't that extremely expensive for an Environmental Search? I read somewhere else it was 70 quid for someone. I chose not to have it because I don't see much reason to especially for that price.

user1977

Doesn't seem an unusual price, but I'd agree they're of doubtful value given they usually tell you either the bleeding obvious, or things which look a bit alarming but are too vague to be of much use.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659893/is-195-plus-vat-a-lot-for-an-environmental-search

How much service / time do you think it will take the professionally qualified staff at the consultancy firm to undertake the search and provide the report? What rate would you expect to pay for any professional service - architect, accountant, solicitor, etc.?

jez9999

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81924735#Comment_81924735

Dunno, 5 minutes? It's all electronic and they're used to doing it.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81924735#Comment_81924735

Realistically, that isn't what's happening. The professionally-qualified staff will have at some point in the past set up a system which churns out a report based on the location specified, you're really just paying for access to their database with some generic advice about how to interpret it. If you want anybody to analyse the data then you'll be paying more.