Chancel Search

[LondonSuperTrooper]

Does anyone know whether I can carry out the chancel search myself? My solicitor allocated by my would be mortgage provider refuses to carry out the search (as they just don't do it!). The solicitor would rather that I took out indemnity insurance at a cost of £25 per year. I would rather know IYSWIM. A local solicitor wants to charge me £110 +VAT for fees as well as the £18 for the actual search!! I feel like I?m being ripped off somehow

So, has anyone carried out the search themselves? If so, please can you recommend a company?

Thanks!

I don't know myself but you could check out www.chancelrepairsearches.co.uk

Don't bother doing it or buying the insurance. IMHO it's a scam. Unless you have a liability specifically mentioned in your deeds the chance of you having to pay anything to the church is vanishingly small. If you do have to pay then it's calculated according to an ancient formula and spread across all the houses in the area, meaning your share will probably be tiny.

The company who do the searches are the same company who sell the insurance... massive conflict of interest.

Just do it yourself! Work out which Cof E parish the house is in, find out the age of the church (if it's 20th C then there's definitely nothing to worry about), then email the church or the local history society. The National Archives website has a leaflet about it too.

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking into all of your suggestions now.

You can order the Chancelcheck Search here for £18

Thanks Granny I did that last night

"My solicitor allocated by my would-be mortgage provider "

That's half your problem. Get your own independent solicitor and/or a different mortgage provider.