Author: Diane

Barratts the well known house builder is going to hedge it’s bets and become a rental arm. They built 11000 homes last year – and maybe the downturn in the mortgage market means they can’t sell them, and would rather rent than keep trying to sell them.

What this means for home buyers? They’re expecting a drop in prices yet further and for the mortgage market to be difficult.

It will be interesting to see how they get on as landlords though.

Sources include assetz

So you think you’ve found your idea dream home.

1. First get the full address. Google and a bit of reading through estate agent’s details should get you this.
2. Do a council tax band search and see how much this is.

3. Check for planning permissions listed for this property on the council’s website.
4. Have a look on the police maps for the local crime information.
5. Do an environment agency search for flooding.
6. Check out the local shops/schools/pubs/post office
7. Check if it gets broadband and what is available – use the broadband checker

8. Can you get a shopping delivery from your local supermarket? You can log in and check with the postcode on most of them.
9. Have a look on google streetmap for the area. It’s almost like driving around

10. Do a general google search for the area – have a look at the newspaper websites for the area too as they can be quite interesting.
11. Look for local community based websites and see what’s going on in the area. Is the local council pro-active and are people interested in what’s going on in the area. For villages see if there’s a village website and read up about what’s going on there!
12. Are there local groups for the things you have as hobbies? Swimming pools/libraries/youth clubs for the kids etc.

After all this, why not ring the agent and organise a viewing!

You need to have leasehold and freehold explained to you and how it applies to your property and the implications on repairs and rights.
Your solicitor should do this. Ask if you have any questions – that’s what they’re there for.

You’ll need to know about service charges and what this covers too. Some can be quite expensive just for day to day maintenance of gardens, window cleaning and basic cleaning of communal areas.
Building repair bills can come out of a special fund which everyone contributes in to all the time – or might need extra money putting in to get repairs done.
Don’t think just because you’re in the middle of a block you won’t contribute to a new roof it is needs one.
I’ll be discussing this topic in more detail over the coming weeks though.
If the block of flats has a lift then generally service charges are more as they have to pay for inspections, servicing and insurance as well as repairs.

What is a Local Authority Search?


It’s a search done by your conveyancing solicitor on your behalf. It’s a list of questions about the house you’re buying which is sent to the local authority. It asks questions about any possible planning applications for that property only, any local road or traffic schemes that might affect the property.


It does not cover any neighbouring property.


It looks at planning and building regulations. Whether it’s a listed building, whether it’s in a conservation area, what building regs approval it might have, whether there’s building regulation completion certificates etc.


Whether roads, footways and footpaths are maintained at public expenses (ie: are highways that are adopted as publicly maintained.)


Whether the property is included in land required for public access.
Whether it is land aquired for road works.
What drainage agreements and consents are applicable. Important as if you have a public sewer in your garden you will not be able to build over it or within so many meters of it.


What nearby road schemes are planned or any changes. Whether it’s near any rail scheme. What traffic schemes are in order near the property. (ie: one way, no parking, road humps, residents parking schemes, etc)


It may also cover any outstanding notices not already covered in terms of environment, health and safety, highways or public health.


It may also list if the property is in contravention of building regulations.


All these things are important to know.

What a local authority search doesn’t cover – it doesn’t cover the neighbours property even if they’re secretly planning a massive extension you don’t get told about it unless you do the research yourself.

It is possible with many local authorities to do a planning or building control search on their website. This allows you to check out planning permissions coming up on your street. It also pays to check this regularly. You can ask the property owner if they know of any – if you do this through your solicitor in writing then this is the best way.