How long it takes to do conveyancing searches is one of the most popular questions people ask when investing in property. It takes between 2 and 10 weeks to do a typical conveyancing search in the UK. How long it takes will depend on the type of property involved and the number of inquiries to be dealt with.
When buying property in the UK, you want to ensure the conveyancing process takes the shortest time. Therefore, you should hire a competent and experienced conveyancer to speed up the process. There are many things involved when conveying, which can drag you a lot.
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Conveyancing search process in the UK
The conveyancing search process takes place between 2 and 10 weeks, depending on the type of property you’re buying. A conveyancing solicitor applies for search once they have received the contract pack from the seller’s solicitor and cleared funds from the property buyer.
Some of the searches your conveyancing solicitor will perform include:
– Environmental search: deals with subsidence, flooding, and contaminated land.
– Local authority search: Here, you will find out issues like planning, highway, pollution, and building control.
– Water and Drainage search: With this search, you will be able to find out who owns and maintains the piping and sewer. You can also find out if the property is connected to the public water supply.
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The above three are the basic searches you will do when buying property. You can also be required to do Coal Authority search if you buy property in an area affected by coal mining.
When do you order a conveyancing search?
In most cases, property buyers instruct their conveyancing solicitor to search for the property as soon as their offer is accepted. This happens once the solicitor has received a search deposit.
In some cases, an in-depth search on property like flooding and mining may not be done on a property until later in the legal process.
As you approach the exchange, a lot of information is required by both parties, including the mortgage lender. A buyer will usually request for pre-completion search after the exchange of contracts.
How long is the local authority search valid for?
Local authority search is one of the most fundamental searches you should take when buying properly in the UK. Sometimes this search may take the longest time. You should order for a local authority search within the last 6 months to be valid at the time of completion.
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That said, if a search is ordered in January, completion must end by June. If this is not possible, you must request another local search. It means your conveyancing solicitor should be able to speed up the conveyancing process. The new plan is applied every day, and what happens in the area where you’re buying the property can change with time.
If you feel like your purchase is dragging on, you should talk to your conveyancer to speed up the process or see if you should apply for another updated local authority search.
What can slow down conveyancing searches?
In most cases, conveyancing searches can be slowed down by factors outside anyone’s control. Some factors like a busy property market can slow down the process.
can slow down significantly during high demand for a property because most people are in the queue. This is frustrating and affects how long it takes to end the searches.
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If you want to speed up the search process, you should hire a conveyancing solicitor who is proactive and communicative. The solicitor should be able to keep you updated on the progress of the search. You want to find out if the solicitor can carry out your work fast.
When the solicitor has a lot of work to do, your search will take a long. Remember, a local authority search can take months if you deal with a conveyancing solicitor with little or no experience in the UK property market.
If you want to complete on time, you should hire a conveyancer with years of experience in doing searches for properties in the UK.
How much do you spend on searches?
When buying a property, you are required to pay conveyancing fees. The conveyancing fees will cater to disbursement and legal work.
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How much you pay for searches will depend on the type of property you buy and the number of searches you need. Remember, the number of search also depends on what location you are purchasing the property from. It will usually cost between £200 and £450 to do a property search.
Final Thoughts
Searching for a property is a legal requirement in the UK if you are investing in property. How long it takes to search depends on what property you’re buying and the number of searches you do. Get an experienced conveyancing solicitor to help you do all the relevant searches on a property before you exchange.
