Compulsory Searches
What is a Land Charge Search?
This search is undertaken shortly before completion takes place to ensure that no financial charges have been registered against the property which have not been disclosed by the seller.
What is an Index Map Search?
This search has to be made in all cases when you are buying unregistered land i.e. a property that has not yet been registered at HM Land Registry, if it is not provided by the seller’s solicitors with the draft contracts and supporting papers.
What is a Company Search?
This search is compulsory where you are purchasing a property from a company.
The search is undertaken in order to check that the company exists, is not subject to insolvency and has not been struck off the Register at Companies House.
What is a Commons Search?
The search is made of the register which is held under the Commons Registration Act and it will confirm whether the land is a village green or common. If it is, then you need to be made aware, because there could be entries such as the grazing of livestock on your front garden. If a registration is revealed, then you will probably not be able to fence off the boundaries of the property or develop it by making alterations or extensions.
What is a Bankruptcy Search?
This search is undertaken on behalf of the mortgage lender to ensure that the buyer has not been made bankrupt. Where there is more than one buyer, a search must be undertaken against each buyer’s full name.
What is a Local Land Charge Search?
The purchase of property or land is probably the largest financial commitment entered into by most people within their lifetime. An integral part of the modern conveyancing process is a search of the Register of Local Land Charges maintained by local councils.
What is a Mining Search?
You can undertake a free check to find out whether your property needs a search undertaking by visiting www.coalminingreports.co.uk and entering the postcode.
What is a Water & Drainage Search?
The Standard Search CON29DW
A Water & Drainage Report (CON29DW) is provided by the various local water companies in England and Wales. The CON29DW report reveals details of water and sewerage assets under and around properties allowing solicitors to determine if properties are properly serviced and to identify any liabilities that the owners may incur.