Common Land & village Green Search
A Common Land Search is usually made on land that has never been built on or which at one time may have belonged to a Lord of the Manor, a town or Village green or any other land you may believe to be common land, i.e. land used by the community at large. The Search can also be carried out on small vacant urban plots of land as these could be subject to common rights. Many Common Land registrations affect small areas of land such as grass verges between properties and the public highways.
This includes (Documents):
1) Common Land Search
Neighbourhood, Planning & Local Amenity Search
This is a search usually carried out by a person prior to or during the purchase of a property. It is a large document of about 40 pages, listing and detailing important information about the area around the property and the people living there.
It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime details, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other Useful Information.
This includes (Documents):
1) Neighbourhood, Planning & Local Amenity Report
Flood Risk Report
The Flood Risk report contains illustrated official details of geographical and water features within 250 metres of the property and answers questions relating to nearby flood defences, non-defended flood areas and the risk of surface water flooding. All information is backed up by detailed maps showing nearby flood risk areas as they are now and as they may be in the future. The report is very comprehensive and averages 13 pages.
This includes (Documents):
1) Flood Risk Report
Drainage & Water Search
This search contains replies to the standard Drainage & Water conveyancing enquiries, a detailed drainage plan and a detailed water works plan. Water quality failures are also reported.
The routes of all drains in the search area are included and the different types of drains & sewers are colour coded, including foul sewer, surface water, rising mains, private sewers, unverified sewers and abandoned sewers. Trunk Mains, Distributions Mains, Untreated Water Mains, Company Service Pipes, Private Service Pipes & Abandoned Water Mains are also shown.
The maps contain further useful information.
This includes (Documents):
1) Drainage & Water Search
Coal Mining & Ground Stability Report
Coal Mining:
Searches are carried against land and property which may be situated in a traditional coal mining area. The search provides details of past, present and future Underground Coal Mining activity, shafts, adits and surface geology, plus past, present and future open cast coal mining Details of damage claims, if any, following subsidence are also provided together with local authority notices served pursuant to subsidence risks and hazards.
Ground Stability:
The report also provides details of ground conditions where subsidence could occur as a result of shrinking clay, running sand, compressible deposits, landslides & soluble rocks. Information provided is backed up with location maps.
This includes (Documents):
1) Coal Authority & British Geological Survey Report
Radon Search
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which decays into other radioactive substances, causing an increased risk of exposure to radiation. The main danger from high radon exposure is the increased risk of lung cancer.
This search is often carried out in areas of reputed high radon before buying a house.
The report contists of radon measurement statistics both within the local authority area and the immediate locality of the property, and provides an estimation of the probability of elevated levels of radon existing in the property itself.
This includes (Documents):
1) Radon Report
Local Authority Search & Additional Enquiries
This search deals with Local Land Charges such as Compulsory Purchase Orders, Local Financial Charges, Planning Applications etc. This is the main search carried out by solicitors when first instructed by you to purchase a property. It is a record of many local matters affecting a property that will not have been registered against the property at the Land Registry.
This includes (Documents):
1) Local Authority Search CON 29 Part I
2) Local Authority Search CON 29 Part II
Planning Review (GroundSure)
Property values are highly dependent on their location. The value of properties can also be affected by the development of property around them and it is important to know what is currently happening and what is planned in the vicinity of your new home.
This includes (Documents):
1) Residential Planning Applications recorded in the last 5 years
2) Commercial Planning Applications recorded in the last 5 years
3) Civic projects in the last 5 years
4) Radon data and Radon Protective Measures data
5) Sensitive Sites detailing areas in your vicinity that are likely to restrict certain types of development and activities
6) Existing and planned mobile mast data: height, maximum licensed power, transmitter power, frequency range, operator / transmission type
7) Local Authority based information: council tax bands, secondary schools (locations and grades), local hospitals, crime statistics (property, person and vehicle
Electricity Company Search
This search is made to ascertain:
a) the routes of cables and ducts within the vicinity of the land, the results of which are illustrated on a plan supplied by the relevant data provider and
b) to determine whether there are any rights / grants of easements and Way-leave agreements affecting the land subject of the search
This includes (Documents):
1) Electricity Company Search - Residential
British Telecom Search
This search contains a detailed map provided by Openreach of the location of BT plant (underground and overground), joint boxes, distribution points, manholes, poles, buried joints, and proposed BT boxes.
The report also includes Openreach recommendations for work to be carried out in the vicinity of Openreach plant.
This includes (Documents):
1) British Telecom Search
Gas Pipeline Search
This search will provide a copy of the Gas Mains Records Plan for the area together with the approximate positions of all known gas mains.
Service pipes, valves, syphones, stub connections etc may also be shown.
A detailed map and other information are also provided.
This includes (Documents):
1) Gas Records Report
NTL Search
This search provides details of any existing or proposed overhead, surface or underground equipment in NTL's ownership or control affecting the search property, and provides copies of any wayleaves or agreements affecting the property together with details of payments made under those wayleaves or agreements. Details of any telephone connections to the property are given and if the Property is not connected advice on where the nearest available connection is and of any preferred route from that point to the property.
Details of any proposals for new equipment, alterations to existing equipment or new wayleave agreements which might affect the Property or any proposed development of it.are also given.
This includes (Documents):
1) NTL Search
London Underground Search
The search is made when underground lines are suspected or apparent. The Information provided includes:
a) if there are any underground railway lines beneath the property or
sufficiently close to consider them to affect the property and if so the route and depth of such tunnels from the surface of the land,
b) whether there are any proposals for the construction of new lines and
c) whether or not there are any rights or liabilities that have been obtained over the land.
This includes (Documents):
1) London Underground Search - Residential
Civil Aviation Authority
This search includes information on aviation activity, proposed developments, and alterations and changes to aviation activity that effect the property.
This includes (Documents):
1) Civil Aviation Authority Search
Limestone Search
Limestone workings were discontinued during the 1930's. However the risk of subsidence still exists. Results to searches will confirm whether a property is likely to be affected by subsidence due to mining works.
This includes (Documents):
1) Limestone Search
Gypsum Search
A Gypsum Search will reveal the proximity of mine workings to the property, when the mine was worked, the depth of workings and If there are any planning consents to carry out workings.
This includes (Documents):
1) Gypsum Search