Land searches - How long?

simonkirkland

Hi all,

I'm going through the grawling task of purchasing a house.

All is sorted except the land searches which my solicitor told us would take 2 weeks and that was 2 weeks ago?

How long does it usually take for these? Was my solicitor wrong in saying 2 weeks or could it just have taken this long?

Thanks

Simon

bridiej

I know here in Shepway they usually take about 6 weeks....

simonkirkland

????????? I hope not???

Anyone else?

The house is in Redditch, worcs

and not that it should make a difference but my solicitor is in North Wales..

Thanks

Simon

Bossyboots

It does depend on the local council. See if Redditch have a website and look for the Land Charges Department. Our local one says how long searches usually take.

Usually, if your solicitor is local to the area you are buying in they will have a good idea of turn around time but if they are not, they could assume their area's turn around time is standard and give you duff information.

If you can't find it on their website, you can give them a ring.

Doozergirl

Hi Simon,

We're buying a house in Redditch too at the moment! Unfortunately,our searches have only gone in today, but we have been told 2 weeks too.

simonkirkland

Thanks Doozergirl, sounds like 2 weeks is a standard time to be told in this area. My solicitor tells me that he is expecting the results back by the end of the week.

I can't find anything on the redditch BC website about the time it takes.

Where in Redditch are you buying? we could be neighbours??? (we're in Winyates)

Simon

margaret_3

Simone

---

ooops! Simon!:o
Weren't you looking for a piece of land a while back? Were you successful?:)

simonkirkland

Yeap that's me... Had to bite the bullet and give up...

Land prices were getting even more silly than house prices at it was getting further and further away from my budget... In the end we found a cracking house to buy and took advantage of a quiet spell in houses selling to get it at a good price..

Our plan is still to build our own in the future but we are planning on living in this house for 2/3 yrs and then selling up moving to North wales rent a house while we find a plot up there (which is cheaper)... I'm still subscribed to plotsearch so I'll keep my eyes open...

Are you trying to find a plot?

Simon

margaret_3

I know. Land prices here are a joke unless you go right up north. We bought 3 1/2 acres with planning permission a couple of months ago for £15,000. We are looking to buy a plot further south but they are wildly expensive.

Do you have to subscribe to plotsearch? Friends subscribed to one like that and NOTHING came up in Scotland after they had paid their subscription.
I'm SO glad that you have found a good house. However, I agree that it's great to build your own.
If you see anything on plotsearch in Scotland will you let me know?Alternatively will you tell me if it's worthwhile my joining!
Thanks
Margaret

simonkirkland

I have a lifetime subscription for <£40 but it only includes 3 counties (not scotland I'm afraid).

You found a 3.5 acre plot with planning for £15k!!!!

a 3.5 acre plot with planning is about £300k here!!! without planning it's about £30k

Plotsearch is alright but tend to have expensive plots. Can I suggest you go buy build it magazine from whsmiths. It's about £3.50 and has a listing from plotsearch in every month so ti will give you a good idea of prices... and some good articles on building houses...

Good luck

Simon

Woby_Tide

just be careful of those North Wales people and their dislike for letting the Englanders build on the plots they buy! My sister-in-law and husband have a plot given to them from their family they tried to build on for years, every time they were turned down due to complaints and objections(from of all people a couple of English people whol lived in the village), this depsite her husband and children being born and bred Welsh and running one of the local farms in the village. Strange old place North Wales