This UKMC guide explains what property searches are, why they are important, and how they can offer peace of mind to home buyers.
Buying a new property is a major investment, and conducting crucial property searches is essential for a smooth, issue-free purchase.
In this blog, we’ll delve into four key search types: Local Authority, Environmental, Water & Drainage, and Land Registry. Understanding these searches will boost your confidence in your home buying journey.
Local Authority Searches
Local Authority searches offer insights into planning, building control, highways, rail projects, and pollution concerns. They help ensure your property isn’t near disruptive construction sites or highways. They also reveal if the property is listed, in a conservation area, or subject to tree preservation orders, keeping you informed about the community.
Environmental Searches
Environmental searches focus on crucial factors such as flooding risks, potential landslides, subsidence issues, and contaminated land. In today’s world, where climate change and environmental awareness are significant concerns, these searches ensure that your prospective home is not prone to flooding or built on unstable ground. They also identify any nearby gas hazards or unsightly landfill sites that could impact the property’s desirability.
Water and Drainage Searches
Water and Drainage searches investigate the connection of your future home to a reliable public water supply and efficient sewer system. These searches are crucial in a time where water scarcity is a growing concern. They verify that your property has access to the necessary resources for modern living and reveal the location of public sewers and drainage pipes. This information helps prevent accidental damage to mainlines during any future home extensions and ensures hassle-free showers and functional plumbing.
Land Registry Searches
Land Registry searches provide a digital certificate of property ownership. These searches verify the legitimacy of the current owner’s claim to the property, offering assurance and evidence for your transaction. By conducting this search, you can have peace of mind knowing that your investment is supported by solid documentation and backed by trusted property records.
By conducting these searches, you gain valuable information about the property’s surroundings, potential risks, plumbing systems, and ownership status.
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Disclaimer
UK Mortgage Centre Limited is an Appointed Representative of Refresh Mortgage Network Limited. Refresh Mortgage Network Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are entered on the Financial Services Register under firm number 1019794.
As a mortgage is secured against your home, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up the mortgage repayments. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some forms of buy-to-let mortgages.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate will writing and taxation and trust advice.
You may be charged a fee for your advice. A typical fee is £495, which would be payable when you receive your mortgage offer. Your dedicated advisor will discuss this further on your free initial phone call.
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