Conveyancing question

[jdpjamesp]

Just seen this in a quote for conveyancing (purchase)

To provide our clients with the best possible service we now recommend that an Environmental Search and a Planning Search be carried out in all residential purchases. Although all Planning entries affecting the property you are proposing to buy should be revealed on the local search quoted for above, those of properties within close proximity are not. Entries revealed in a Planning search may not only affect your personal choice of the property but might well affect its future value. These searches are in addition to the searches quoted for above the cost of which is £x for the Environmental Search and £x for the Planning Search If you have any questions regarding this please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be grateful if you would indicate whether you would like to take advantage of this.

Necessary or just trying to make money?

 

[Rooter]

Greg (GB72) is your man, I had them done recently, but wasnt given a choice, they just did them.

 

[DCB]

Environmental search may well be a prerequisite by the Lender if the site was a "Brown Field" site prior to development. It's a way of checking to see what may or may not be in the soil/ground. If you know it's been a greenfield site then not really needed.

Planning Search will look at what is lodged with the local authority planning dept in the area. A bit of detective work online could well help you avoid this one.

Both could throw up unforseen issues so both have value.

 

[GB72]

None are a pre requisite of the lender so you do have a choice. I do enviro searches as a matter of course but not necessarily the planning search. Depends on where the property is. If you are in a built up area or new development then knowing about surrounding properties may not be an issue. If you are in the country and buying for the space and views then it may be. That said, most planning departments have online access to planning applications now. Your solicitor should also ask if there has been any notices of intended planning applications served on the current owner. If there have been no notices then there is nothing that would show up on the council records anyway.

 

[jdpjamesp]

Thanks GB72. Sounds like Enviro will be useful.

 

[AMcC]

Thanks GB72. Sounds like Enviro will be useful.

It should hopefully check for outstanding enforcement notices issued by the local council, as well as if the water supply is public / private and is mains / private drainage. Another worthy item is if the road has been adopted by the local authority.
Also they normally include how the property is zoned in the Council's local plan and what policies apply to that area. They may affect future development in the area

 

[GB72]

That is a mix of what is in the local authority, drainage and environmental searches

 

[AMcC]

That is a mix of what is in the local authority, drainage and environmental searches

In Scotland they pretty much always get the Property Enquiry Certificate, then also enviro searches as well.

Is there any requirements in the Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook to get these searches done?

The big thing with Solicitors up here is unauthorised alterations, what to do about them and when is too old to be relevant ? Great fun.

 

[GB72]

CML are vague and say all necessary searches. Local is the only essential but most solicitors insist on drainage at least and many do environmental