What property searches actually are
Property searches are the checks your solicitor carries out with the local council and a few other organisations to make sure there are no surprises about your home sale or purchase. Think of this as a sensible bit of detective work, the sort you would want someone to do on your behalf before you commit to anything.
What searches usually look for
The main ones cover things like planning history, road or transport plans nearby, flood risk, drainage, water connections and environmental notes. Nothing scary. Just the sort of everyday information that helps everyone understand the property properly.
To get a sense of how searches fit into the legal side of things, we spoke to Daniel Sutton, the Operations Director at Conveyan, the panel for independent third-party conveyancers who work on Foxtons cases.
“Searches sound complicated although they are simply there to give you a clearer picture. Your solicitor will talk you through anything that matters. If you are not sure what you are looking at, ask. That is exactly what we are here for.”
Daniel Sutton,
Operations Director - Conveyan
When searches happen in the process
Searches usually start once your offer has been accepted and the draft contract has been sent across. Buyers will often be sorting their mortgage at the same time. Sellers will be answering a few questions from their solicitor too. It is all part of the normal rhythm of a sale. In some London boroughs the results come back quickly, and in others they take a little longer, although your solicitor will keep you in the loop.
If something unexpected pops up
If a search flags something you were not expecting, your solicitor will explain it in normal English. It might be a planning application two streets away or a drainage quirk that has been sitting on record for years. Most of the time it is nothing to worry about, and if anything does need a closer look, your solicitor will know the best way to handle it. Sellers can often clear things up with a document or two.
“There is never a silly question in conveyancing. If something in the results feels odd or you simply want to double check, speak to your solicitor. It is always better to ask and feel confident about what comes next.”
Daniel Sutton,
Operations Director - Conveyan
Keeping everything moving smoothly
Searches are one part of the bigger picture, which tends to move much more smoothly when buyers and sellers have their paperwork ready early. The most important part of any sale is keeping the momentum going on both sides through the paperwork stage.
So, the sooner solicitors can begin, the fewer delays once the search results come back. We recommend getting your solicitor on board early, either when you’ve made an offer on a property or you’ve put your property on the market.
Foxtons recommends the Sale Ready Pack from Conveyan. It helps gather the documents the solicitors will eventually need, which keeps things tidy and avoids the slow, back and forth moments that can hold up a transaction.
What documents come up during a sale? Read our Documents Guide.
Ready for the next step?
Searches are rarely the bit that holds things up. Paperwork is. So whether you want to see how your purchase is shaping up or get a head start on the documents your solicitor will eventually ask for, this is the easy bit to sort now.
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Source: At Foxtons, our insight comes from supporting thousands of property journeys every year across London and the Home Counties. For this article, we combined our hands on experience with guidance from specialists at Conveyan to give buyers clear, practical context at every stage. If you have a question on this article, email us to ask a Foxtons expert.
