Searches are crucial when you buy a house.
It gives you clarity on every aspect of the property you’re buying.
Read this blog to find out how long do searches take when buying a house.
What are searches when buying a house?
Searches are a series of checks carried out by the buyer’s solicitor. The goal is to find out all important information about the house.
This ensures that the buyer is aware of any potential problems that may appear further down the line.
What’s involved in searches when buying a house?
Most solicitors carry out the same set of searches when someone is buying a house.
Each one focuses on a different thing. But they are all equally valuable.
| Search type | Time taken (avg) |
| Local authority | A few months |
| Drainage and water | Up to 10 days |
| Environmental | Up to 10 days |
| Flood risk | Up to 10 days |
| Coal and mining | Up to 10 days |
| Chancel repairs | Up to 10 days |
| Land registry | Up to 10 days |
Environmental search
Your solicitor will look at the environment surrounding your property. This usually includes details such as:
- Flooding
- Landslides
- Contaminated land
- Radon gas hazard
- Subsidence
If any of these elements are present, or if the local area has a strong history of these things, then it’s important that you know about it.
After all, landslides or subsidence can impact your safety within the property. And you may thus back out of the purchase altogether.
Water and drainage search
While this may not be the ‘sexiest’ of all the searches, it can still have very real implications for you once you move into the property.
A water and drainage search looks at, amongst other things:
- How the property is charged for water services
- Whether you are connected to the main water supply
- Where precisely the water mains are
- Whether there is a public sewer in the boundaries of the property
- Which water companies are involved
Not only can these findings affect your monthly outgoings (such as how you are charged for using water), but it may also affect your ability to extend the property if there is a public sewer in close proximity.
Local authority search
This involves contacting local authorities close to your house.
Your solicitor will want to learn about things such as planning permissions, highway issues, or restrictions on development. Most councils aim to get responses to you within 10 days.
This check may warn you about problems, such as extensions made without planning permission. It’ll also look at:
- Installation of a boiler
- Rewiring of your house
- Building control issues
- Rail schemes
- Pollution.
Some of these factors may impact whether alterations are needed in the near future. It can change what you are/aren’t allowed to do moving forwards.
Bankruptcy search
This search focuses mainly on the seller. It ensures that they aren’t bankrupt. In some cases, they could be hiding this from you. So, it’s best to check.
Chancel search
This looks at whether the property is in a parish with a chancel repair liability. If so, this can have implications for you further down the line.
Why are searches necessary when buying a house?
Searches ensure that you’re well-informed about the house you’re buying. You can’t always guarantee that your seller has disclosed everything they should. Searches thus give you protection against possible deceit.
After the findings of searches, many buyers drop their offer if something bad is revealed. Or they might walk away altogether.
How long do searches take when buying a house?
There are other cases when searches take over one month. This might be because councils or third parties are unresponsive.
It usually takes a few weeks.
In the best-case scenario, it could be completed within 7 days. But this may carry a risk that your solicitor didn’t look thoroughly enough.
Why do searches take so long when buying a house?
It’s important that your solicitor is thorough. They can’t rush this process, because there’s so much money on the line.
Your solicitor will liaise with local organisations such as councils, water providers, construction companies and more.
There’s no guarantee that they’ll respond fast. This can slow down the process. But it’s often worth the wait if it gives you protection.
Impacts on the time taken for searches when buying a house
Solicitor you use
There’s no denying that some solicitors are more efficient than others. You’ll find a few who are speedy and responsive. But others are in no rush.
You should always try to choose one in the first category! Check reviews to see what past customers have said about their efficiency.
Local organisations
Your solicitor needs to communicate with local organisations. But they can’t control how responsive they are. In this case, you’re somewhat powerless to the response times of local bodies.
Location
Your location can have a big impact. Some local councils are more responsive than others.
And if your house is in the middle of nowhere, and hasn’t been sold in a long time, finding records can be more challenging than a new-build property in the centre of town.
How recently searches were last done
Information will sometimes be available from searches done recently.
This can speed up the process if the details remain the same, and your solicitor doesn’t have to do these all over again.
Property size and condition
Larger properties can potentially have more issues. This can also involve a higher number of searches.
And if your house is in terrible condition, your solicitor will often want to be extra thorough with their checks.
Especially if the house has been abandoned, and some details are hard to find.
It is worth noting that the location, property size and overall condition of the property can hinder how quickly the searches are completed.
