Discuss starting searches with your conveyancer
Updated: 29th Aug, 2024
Author: Charlotte Burton
🔎 What are searches?
Searches are packs of information about the property & its surroundings that your conveyancer needs to request from the local council and other places. This information may uncover potential issues with the property & change whether you still want to buy the property, e.g. if the property has been flooded in the past.
❓ What are the 3 main types of searches?
- 🏛️ Local Authority searches
- 🌳 Environmental searches
- 🌊 Water & Drainage searches
There are other types of searches that are less common and more specific to certain properties or areas, such as mining searches, flood searches, and chancel repair searches.
You might also hear "title searches" mentioned. These searches are done for everyone, but are normally separate from the other searches that are done together in a "search pack".
💸 How much do they cost?
- Searches typically cost £250-450 in total.
- Your conveyancer may ask for you to pay this to them upfront, before they send off the searches.
⏰ How long do they take?
- Searches typically take 2-6 weeks to come back.
- This varies a lot depending on the local council. You can see the average turnaround times for different councils at Property Searches Direct.
📅 When should I start searches?
- This decision requires weighing up timelines against the non-refundable cost of searches.
- Waiting until both your and your seller’s mortgage applications are accepted will reduce the likelihood of you wasting money, as sales can fall through if one party can’t get a mortgage.
- However, waiting will delay the process. If you’re in a rush, or are nearing the last 2-3 months of your mortgage offer period, it is better to tell your conveyancer to get on with searches and risk losing the money.
🤔 Do I have to get searches?
- If you're getting a mortgage, you have to get searches, as your lender won't give you a mortgage without them.
- If you're a cash buyer (i.e. you're not getting a mortgage) you don't have to get searches other than title searches, but it could be a big risk not to.
