As part of the house buying process, your legal representative will undertake several ‘searches’ on your behalf. The cost of these searches will be charged back to you as expenses (disbursements).
The searches undertaken may include some or all of the following, dependent on the property’s location and age. They are;
Local authority searches:
These cost between £70 and £400 depending on the Local Authority and usually takes about 14 days to be completed. However, with some local authorities it can take longer. The search will check whether there are any proposed developments in the immediate vicinity that might affect your property. Is a new road planned? Is there a landfill nearby? For more information see our Blog, 'What is a local Authority Search?'.
Environmental Search:
You can check flood risk at the Land Registry or obtain a more detailed environmental search. You may also want to check that the land is not contaminated or close to environmental hazards. Most searches are ‘desktop’ searches of known environmental issues, although if you are concerned, you can commission intrusive ground surveys and actually test the soil. These are expensive and with most homes, especially new homes, this is usually unnecessary. The ‘desktop’ environmental search usually costs about £60 - £80.
Water Authority Search:
This usually costs £50 - £75 and will let you know if drains are located close to your property. It’ll also tell you how you get your water.
Chancel Repair Search:
This costs around £18. There are some medieval rights held by churches that require homes to pay for the maintenance of the church and buildings! You can take insurance for this risk for about the same cost as the search.
Mining Search:
If in an established historic mining area then a mining search is critical. You want to know if your house is built on or near old mine workings.
In addition to formal searches, enquiries might be made of Local Authorities and/or the seller. Enquiries of the seller are called ‘enquiries before contract’ and might ask about boundary walls, noisy neighbours and similar topics.
For more information on property searches, contact Mortgage Required on 01628 507477.
Recent posts
We look at why mortgage rates increased following the Bank of England's choice to reduce the bank rate, and should you fix now?
UK 2024 Autumn Budget: Housing
16 days ago
On 30th October 2024 the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn budget which we had previously been warned would be “difficult”. Below we have summarised the main housing points.
Talking about money with kids
23 days ago
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
Labour Autumn Budget Predictions: Housing
28 days ago
The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves will deliver the Labour government’s autumn budget at the end of the month, we take a look at what could be announced in relation to housing.
Recent research from Halifax has revealed the most sought-after locations for first time buyers in Britain.
The data which was taken from the Halifax House Price Index looked at areas outside of London where those looking to purchase their first property were buying. Despite high property prices and increased rates, these first time buyer hotspots have remained popular.
How can I look after my mental health?
7 Oct 2024
Taking care of your mental health means looking after your emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. There are several ways we can practice self-care that will help to improve our physical and mental health. This can help to reduce our risk of illness, manage stress, and boost our energy levels!
First Time Buyer to do List
4 Oct 2024
Buying your first home is very exciting but it can also be very daunting which is why we have set out a “to do list” to help you get started.
Bank of England Holds Base Rate at 5%
20 Sep 2024
With UK inflation remaining at 2.2% which is slightly above the Bank of England’s 2% target, the decision was made on Thursday 19th September to keep the base rate at 5%.
More information
Trusted by
