skipping searches?

[user1467297746]

We've seen a house we like - and are desperate to move asap!

We dont need a mortgage, can we skip the searches?

This doesn't seem a controversial neighbourhood! Lots of nice houses well spaced, well maintained area

Not worried about flooding, the house is in a row of identical houses and hasn't been modified from its neighbours. I know it has drains and toilets, I used one seems to be fully functional! :)

No mining in this area at all.

This would probably save weeks of time!

what are the dangers?

[sparechange]

The searches don't always have to take a long time. Ours were all done online by the solicitor and came back within the same day

You could also get a few quotes for building insurance. Their databases will know about flood risk, local land contimination, subsidence etc so if you get an abnormally high quote, it could indicate an issue.

[SingaSong12]

Things you might not know about without searches

• planning permission in the area for buildings or roads
  
• any public drains on the land
  
• contaminated land, previous landfill, current and former industry, any radon gas risk
  
• disputes with neighbours
  

There are others - it might slow things but do you really want to find out after you've bought that they have given planning permission for a factory or road nearby?

[ZaraW]

I wouldn't I've always used my survey as a starting point for negotiations to get the price down though I've always purchased older houses and something always comes up.

[sohackedoff]

You can get search insurance or personal searches done to protect you.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Would your conveyancer let you? I wouldn't buy without it.

[Cel982]

Get them done. You're talking about maybe a few days' delay versus potentially overlooking a massive issue that could seriously affect the future value of your house? You can't know that the plumbing is all in working order just because you used the loo

If you're cash buyers you're already in a very strong position. Get the searches, get a proper survey, and buy it with an easy mind. Good luck!

[Floggingmolly]

It would be a monumentally stupid thing to do . Surely you know that?

[whattodoforthebest2]

You can do them yourself. It's quite straightforward.

How do you know it's a freehold you're buying? There could be rights of way over the property. There could be any number of charges and/or restrictions on the register.

Or maybe you're not worried about issues arising after the purchase, or when you come to sell. It's not as if it's a large amount of money.

[redhat]

You can pay extra for expedited searches. In some areas you'll get them back within 24 hours or in 8 hours if its an expedited electronic search.

Even under normal circumstances a local search sent by post should only take a week or so.

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

Our survey found rats! I'm so glad we did it.

[whattodoforthebest2]

A survey isn't the same thing as a search. A search is a legal process of establishing the ownership of the property, any mortgages or 'charges' that might have been made on the title, any local authority restrictions or planning permissions nearby that might affect the property, any secured loans that the owner might have entered into that were secured on the property.

I rarely bother with a survey, but I'd never consider not doing searches.

Incidentally many of us living in urban areas have rats in fairly close proximity, often without realising it.

[Spickle]

You don't need to get searches as you are not getting a mortgage. A mortgage lender requires the Local Authority, Enviro and Water & Drainage as essential if a mortgage offer is required.

The legal title and breaches of covenant is revealed when the solicitor gets the title deeds from Land Registry so not the same thing as a search.

The Local Search will reveal planning decisions and building work on the property for which certificates were either issued or not and without having this search you will not know whether any extensions/loft conversions were done with/without consent and building regulations compliance, unless the vendor supplies all the paperwork to the solicitor acting for him.

A survey is not a search. I trust you will be getting a survey done?

[freshstart22]

I would always get a survey done. Even if you are a cash buyer. We went to buy somewhere recently and the survey showed us that it wasn't worth the price we was offering. It was a good way to negotiate.

[OurBlanche]

I think you'd be mad not to. As others have said, searches look for all sorts of legal issues that surveys don't touch.

[Savagebeauty]

Why wouldn't you?
I'm a cash buyer. Have just had a full building survey done and waiting for searches to come back. This is the biggest purchase you will make.

[Seeline]

ANd have you checked whether any of the lovely well spaced houses are going to be demolished to make way for a new estate?
Or whether your NDN has permission for a massive extension?
Or what's happening to that nice bit of open green space you can see from the window?

Just as examples....

[freshstart22]

I agree savage I don't believe it's a time to try and cut corners and save a few quid.

[Spickle]

OP hasn't said she is not getting a survey.

She said she was thinking of not getting searches.

[Spickle]

Personally, I would get searches.

But you don't have to if you are not getting a mortgage. It could be risk, but it is entirely your choice.

I am a conveyancing assistant and we have plenty of clients who do not get searches done if they are cash buyers, particularly if they know the area.

[Savagebeauty]

All my searches were done in a week.
Survey carried out on a Friday and got report in the Monday.
The only thing making my purchase drag is the bloody solicitor. But expect to complete within 8 weeks of offer

[Spickle]

Savagebeauty - maybe your solicitor isn't getting the responses from the seller's solicitor quickly, or maybe there are other third parties who need to respond too?

[wowfudge]

Worst case scenario of not having searches carried out? There's a plan to compulsorily purchase the property due to the expansion of a nearby road or railway. You've paid over the odds because knowing that you wouldn't have agreed to purchase at the price you paid.

This means market value is below what you paid and once the place is CP'd you need to find somewhere else to buy.

It's your money, but not having searches carried out has to be up there as one of the most stupid moves a buyer could make. The general principle is caveat emptor.

[Savagebeauty]

It's definitely my solicitor.