Buyer's Pre-Contract Searches (Stage 2)

Question 1

What pre-contract searches are so important that they will always be carried out?

Answer 1

Local Search
- Local land charges
- Enquiry of local authority
- Option enquiries of local authority (common land & town or village green)

Drainage and Water Search

Environmental Search

Question 2

What is the purpose of a Drainage and Water Search?

Answer 2

To see if the property is connected to the public water supply and drainage systems.

Question 3

What is the purpose of an Environmental Search?

Answer 3

To check whether the land is contaminated, since the landowner is responsible for clean up (even if they didn’t cause the contamination)

Question 4

What are transaction-specific searches?

Answer 4

• Search of the Index Map
• Bankruptcy Search
• Company Search
• Chancel Liability Search (obligation to contribute to local church)
• Land Charges Search (against unregistered land after 1926)

Question 5

What is a location-specific search to carry out?

Answer 5

Coal Mining