What Legal Searches Are Carried Out When You Buy a Home?

Buying a home involves more than agreeing a price and picking up the keys. Behind the scenes, a series of legal checks protect you from nasty surprises. Whether it’s local development plans or hidden flood risks, these searches give you essential insights before you commit.

Your solicitor will arrange these as part of the conveyancing process. Keep reading to understand what they cover and why each one matters.

Why Searches Matter Before You Buy

Before your purchase completes, your solicitor needs to confirm that there’s nothing legally risky about the property. These searches highlight problems you might not spot at a viewing, including planning restrictions, drainage concerns, or environmental hazards.

Your conveyancing searches assess physical and legal influences outside of the property; for an expert assessment of the building’s interior and exterior condition, you will also need to book your property survey online, by email, or over the phone

Local Authority Checks

One of the most important legal searches is with the local authority. It uncovers whether the home is affected by road schemes, planning enforcement notices, or local planning applications. If a new dual carriageway is proposed at your doorstep, this is how you’ll find out.

Your solicitor will submit a form called CON29 along with LLC1, which includes data on listed building status, conservation areas, and tree preservation orders.

Flood and Environmental Risks

An environmental search reviews historic land use, flooding risks, and possible contamination. These are particularly relevant in areas near rivers, past industrial sites, or with soft ground. A separate flood risk search may also be ordered if the area is prone to waterlogging or coastal surges.

Properties in known flood zones may require specialist insurance or even flood defences. It’s better to be informed before exchanging contracts.

Water and Drainage Arrangements

You need to know whether your property is connected to mains water and sewers. This search reveals whether you share drains, where water pipes run, and if there’s anything on your land restricting development, such as a sewer easement. If you plan to build an extension, this information becomes especially important.

Mining and Ground Stability Checks

Previous mining activity may have weakened the ground. A mining search checks for old tunnels, shaft locations, and any past subsidence claims. These findings are essential for mortgage lenders and could affect your insurance premiums too.

Title, Boundaries, and Rights of Way

Land Registry checks confirm who legally owns the property and its boundaries. They also show whether other people or utilities have access rights across the land. Some homes, especially older ones, come with restrictions on what you can build or do with the property. These should be clear in the title register.

Last Word

Buying a house means more than just liking the layout. Legal searches offer insight into what’s below the surface literally and legally. Skipping them could leave you with a home that’s harder to sell or more expensive to maintain. Let your solicitor guide you through the paperwork, and make sure you know exactly what you’re buying.