When you are buying a house and are in need of a trusted solicitor, be sure to ask if they conduct conveyancing searches on your behalf.
Conveyancing Searches and Legal Property Searches
Even if you visit a property yourself, it is nearly impossible to see all its issues with one, or even two viewings. You need to complete a full legal search that will serve as an in-depth look at the house itself. This is so you can be prepared for any potential liabilities by understanding the full history of the property, you can protect your investment and minimise the risk of costly fixes down the line.
What are Conveyancing Searches?
A conveyancing search, or a legal property search, is conducted by a conveyancer, often with the help of local authorities. It typically covers several things:
Local Authority Searches
With the help of local authorities, this kind of search is divided into two types of searches, the LLC1 and the CON29 result.
The LLC1 provides information on the house itself. The authorities will look at several factors, such as whether your property is a listed building, whether it is located in a conservation area, or if it requires a renovation grant.
The CON29 on the other hand checks if your property will be affected by any future development plans. It checks if your property will be affected by new roads or traffic schemes, or whether any new building regulations are coming into effect. While some parts of the CON29 are required, other tests are not, so be sure to check with your conveyancer first.
Environmental Searches
An environmental search checks for environmental hazards affecting your home. It can check for contaminated land, nearby landfill sites, radon gas hazards, ground stability issues and many more. It is best to ask for an environmental search on top of your local authority search just to make sure that your home is safe.
Flood Risk
While a flood risk assessment is typically part of an environmental search, your conveyancer may recommend that you ask for an additional flood risk assessment
Property searches also check for flood risks it will determine the drainage of your home and its location relative to any flood risks.
Water Authority Search
Another test is the water authority search, which is ideal for first-time buyers. This will help you apply to the local water company and make sure that your water and drainage are up to the requirements set by government regulations.
Chancel Repairs Liability
In certain areas, parochial church councils have the right to ask for chancel repairs liability. If you are inheriting or buying a home that is within the parishes of the church, you may be liable to contribute to the cost of its repairs. You can check with your land registry to make sure that you are not subject to chancel repairs liability.
There are several more types of conveyancing searches that you can ask for depending on your location. Always discuss with your solicitor first to see what will be needed.
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