Summary
Conveyancing searches are an important part of the buying process: you should know if there are planning or environmental issues with your new property
In this article, we’ll explore the different types of conveyancing searches that are available in England and Wales, and explain why they are important.
Conveyancing is the legal process of exchanging a property’s ownership from one person to another. When buying a place to live in England and Wales, it is important to carry out a range of conveyancing searches to ensure that you are aware of any potential issues that may affect your purchase.
Searches are a vital part of the conveyancing process, as they help you to uncover any problems with the property that may affect your purchase. Your conveyancing solicitor or conveyancer carries out these searches and can cover a range of issues, including planning permissions, environmental concerns, and potential risks to the property.
Local Authority Searches
Local authority searches are one of the most important types of conveyancing searches as they provide information about the property and the local area, including planning permissions, building regulations, and any restrictions on the property.
They can also highlight any potential issues like nearby road schemes.
Environmental and Water Searches
Environmental searches are designed to highlight any potential environmental risks, such as the probability of flooding, contamination, and potential for natural soil shrinkage, as well as local infrastructure projects.
These searches are important as they can help you make an informed decision about whether the property you are thinking of buying is a safe and viable investment.
Water and drainage searches tell you about the home’s water and sewage systems. This can include information about whether it’s connected to the mains water and drainage and any potential issues with the drainage system. It’s always a good idea to have this search done as it can be expensive to rectify any complications there might be.
Chancel Repair Liability Searches
Chancel repair liability searches are carried out to determine whether the property is located in a parish where there may be a potential liability for chancel repair costs. Chancel repair liability is an ancient legal obligation, which means that homeowners in certain areas of the country may be required to pay for repairs to the local church.
These searches can highlight any potential liabilities that may affect the cost of owning a property.
Mining Searches
Mining searches are carried out in areas of England and Wales that have a history of mining. They can help give information associated with mining, like historic or recent mining activity and nearby mine shafts.
Other Types of Search
There are a number of other types of search which may or may not apply, depending on the location of the property you are purchasing – these include rail searches or tin mining searches.
You should discuss the range of other searches with your conveyancing solicitor if you think they may be relevant.
Searches: Wrapping it up …
In conclusion, searches are an essential part of the conveyancing process when buying a property in England and Wales. They can provide valuable information about the property and the local area, which is used to help you decide if the house will be a good fit for you.
Remember, it’s up to you what searches you request from your conveyancing solicitor, but you don’t want to kick yourself if you miss a crucial bit of information when you’re buying your new home.