What searches do conveyancers do?
Conveyancers do several different searches when you buy a house, from environmental search to land registry search or even a mining search. Some conveyancing searches are mandatory for all properties, such as a local authority search, while others are only relevant for certain property types or locations, such as a chancel liability search for properties near a parish church.
What are the three main searches when buying a house?
There are three main conveyancing searches that are strongly recommended when buying a property: an environmental search, a local authority search, and a land registry search.
Search type | Environmental search | Local authority search | Land registry search |
|---|
Key features | ✓ Flood risk ✓ Ground stability ✓ Radon gas ✓ Land contamination e.g. from landfills or old industrial sites | ✓ Planning history ✓ Building regulations ✓ Road adoption status ✓ Traffic and highway schemes ✓ Conservation areas ✓ Planning agreements or applications ✓ Enforcement notices or actions ✓ Community infrastructure charges | ✓ Legal ownership ✓ Mortgages or charges against the property ✓ Property boundaries ✓ Details on rights of way through the property |
Mandatory? | Yes (if mortgaged) | Yes (if mortgaged) | Yes, for all purchases |
Typical cost | Around £60 | Ranges from £150 to £400 | Ranges from £7 to £11 per search dependant |
Environmental search
Environmental searches look at whether the property you are purchasing is built on or near contaminated land or water, as well as the risk of potential landslips or flooding. They provide information about contamination risks from nearby landfill sites, industrial uses, radon gas hazard, ground stability, and a flood risk rating.
An environmental search usually costs around £60.
Local authority search
A local authority search reviews all the information the local authority holds on the house you're buying. It provides a detailed view of the property and some general information about its surrounding area. This includes issues such as planning and building regulations, road adoption status, and any nearby roadwork or railway schemes.
Local authority searches can cost anywhere from £150 to £400. The exact cost depends on the specific local authority in the property's area.
Land registry search
Land registry searches confirm the legal ownership of the property and check for any existing mortgages or charges against the property. They also provide information on property boundaries and any rights of way or other restrictions that may apply.
Prices for a land registry search range from £7 to £11 depending on whether you apply for the search by post or online.
Typical cost - A Land registry search ranges from £7 - £11 per search dependant on if you apply for the search by post or online
What other conveyancing searches are there?
Alongside the land registry, local authority, and environmental search, there are other specialised searches in conveyancing that may be necessary based on the property's location and specific concerns.
Additional searches | What it looks for | Who needs it? | Typical cost |
|---|
Water & Drainage | Main water supply connection, and location of public sewer boundaries and water mains | Buyers wanting to extend or check their property's infrastructure | Around £60 |
Mining | Subsidence risk from historic mining on the land | Properties in areas with a history of industry e.g. coal and brine | £30 to £150 |
Flood | Detailed flood risk assessment beyond a basic environmental search | Properties in high-risk flood zones, such as by the coast | £50 to £75 |
Chancel Liability | Checks historic church repair obligations linked to medieval parish boundaries | Requires property location details to confirm any remaining liability and assess need for indemnity cover | £25 to £100 |
Planning | Planning area activity nearby, including approved developments and proposals affecting the surround area | Uses property address information to review local planning records beyond the specific property | £30 to £40 |
Energy & Infrastructure | Highlights planned energy or infrastructure projects that could impact the property's environment or future use | Requires location and boundary data to check for nearby national or regional development schemes | £30 to £90 |
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