Conveyancing, please help explain the details?
March 28th, 2010 by admin
My conveyancing solicitor has quoted me on the cost offering the following options and why some are if required and others are optional.
Local Search Fee (if required)
Coal Mining Search Fee (optional)
Environmental Search Fee (optional)
Drainage Search Fee (if required)
Please provide all the detail you can.
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Take a look at this site
You need a local search to make sure that a motorway is not going through your street, or a pig farm is being built behind you or maybe a huge rubbish tip will be at the end of your road. Too many options and nasties to mention here.
For coal mining I would only have that done if I lived in Wales or an area where mining has been done in the past.
Environmental search, I have never bothered to have done as was never sure what it was all about.
Drainage, is important, you need to know where your main drains are
Technically, you could dispense with all of them, but that would be a foolhardy option indeed.
Your solicitor is trying to give you a steer in terms of the descriptions used. (S)he is indicating that some are “optional” as, in his/her experience those items are unlikely to reveal any useful information, given their knowledge of the locality. Even so, some clients like to have the peace of mind.
The two “if required” ones are really your solicitor’s recommendations as to searches that ought to be done and you confirmation of this is required.
A local search should NEVER be dispensed with. The amount of info that is revealed is quite significant. And make sure that your solicitor gives you a copy, as well.
A coal mining search is really only essential in an area of known coal mining. There are actually rather a lot of these, but your solicitor does not seem to think that this is likely to be of relevance for the property in question.
Environmental searches are becoming more common. They tell you what has been going on on the site of the property and in the immediate vicinity over the history of the area. Would you like to know if there used to be a chemical works at the end of the garden? I would.
Drainage searches provide details of just what you would expect. Again, these look at the area around the property as well as the property itself. Given the amount of flooding over recent years, these too have been on the increase.
And why is your solicitor asking? To get your specific instructions and thus prevent you being able to sue if you find out about the mine shaft under the conservatory when the dog disappears down it.
Your solicitor should be explaining what they are and giving recommendations.
Local Search – Tells you all sorts about the property, such as tree preservation orders, planning permissions granted or refused, proposed local developments etc.
Coal Mining Search – Tells you about any current or past coal mining activity around the property. This is important because houses have been known to subside into old mines. Compensation can be paid but if it has already been paid to a previous owner is won’t be paid again and this search will tell you that. There are specific areas where this is required and areas where not. Your solicitor will tell you which you house is in.
Environmental Search – Tells you about old land fill and other hazards that may be on the property. This is critical because it is now the land-owner’s responsibility to clear it up. If something comes to light after you buy it will be up to you to pay to fix it.
Drainage Search – Checks for drainage across and around your property. Can indicate flood risks etc.