Legal Aid: A Blog About Laws And Legal Processes

Legal Aid: A Blog About Laws And Legal Processes

Importance of conveyancing searches

Renee Bates

You have located your dream house and instructed your conveyancing solicitor to speed up the sale process. So that's it, right? Well, not quite. One of the responsibilities of your conveyancer is to inform you about the conveyancing searches that ought to be performed on the property. So what are conveyancing searches? These searches aim to disclose additional information about the property that isn't obvious or noticeable by the buyer on physical inspection. The issues highlighted could mean the difference between you purchasing the house or walking away from the sale. Searches aren't a formality, so overlook them at your risk.

Types of conveyancing searches

Local authority search

Local authority search entails a review of the registers maintained by the council authority. The first segment of the search reviews the Local Land Charges Register which discloses details regarding any enforcement notices or charges filed against the real estate. These may include tree preservation regulations, conservation area regulations and planning enforcement notifications. The second segment of the search discloses matters such as the actual property boundaries, rights of way, utility providers, building restrictions and road maintenance agreements.

Water and drainage search

This type of search reveals if the house is joined to the water main and sewerage, who the utility company is, as well as the actual location of the plumping pipes, drains and sewers in and around the house. Furthermore, the search will also reveal any drainage permissions in place as well as the risk of the water and drainage systems connected to the house being overloaded.

Environmental search

This type of conveyancing search reviews the past uses of the property or land in an attempt to ascertain whether such uses may have led to the contamination of the land. This search typically features plenty of information, but the most crucial element is the result, which is either failed or passed. A failed result means that the property or land has been utilized for an activity which resulted in its contamination, for example chemical works. On the other hand, a passed result indicates that the assessment did not find any proof of historical contaminative use. With this type of information about the history of the property or land, the buyer should decide whether the purchase is appropriate or not.

In summation, avoid assuming conveyancing searches as simply another wearisome expense in the home buying process. Consider it as a chance to learn more regarding your new property. So when you conveyancer tells you about the need to perform conveyancing searches, please cooperate fully.


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About Me
Legal Aid: A Blog About Laws And Legal Processes

Welcome! My name is Jessica, and I work as a legal aid secretary. I am in awe of the lawyers in my office and the variety of cases they cover. From injury compensation to family court matters, they need to understand the law in a broad range of areas. As a legal secretary, it is often my job to research particular points of law or find certain cases for reference. It is a fascinating job and I work hard to keep up with the constant changes to our laws and legal processes. Friends and family often ask me for direction on legal matters and whilst I explain that I am no expert, I usually manage to provide sound advice. This blog is for people who share my passion for the law or who want to understand more about our legal system. I hope you find it engaging and useful.