Huge wait for local authority searches (London) - can anything be done?

[iamdashi]

We've just been told by our conveyancer that the local authority searches (north London) aren't expected back until mid-September. They requested this towards the start of July. Over two months!

I know the SDLT holiday was holding things up but c'mon! Is there anything that can be done to expedite? What still has to happen once the LA searches come back?

Would value any experienced you'd like to share. Thank you

Ask your solicitor what personal search provider(s) they use. A persoanl search will be quicker than that.

Lack of search indemity insurance may be an option, but if you're taking a mortgage not all lenders will agree to this.

You’re lucky it’s only 2 months! Here in Wiltshire it’s 4 to 5 months. My parents house was sold in April and we’re still waiting for the buyer’s searches to be done.
Goodness knows how much longer it’s going to drag on.

What can't be done until after the searches? As in, can we get the search results then exchange?

@Mildura what's a personal search? Thank you for your input!

@YanTanTethera123 omg that's crazy!

There are two types of local authority searches.

An official search is submitted to the Local Authority for them to complete from the information kept by the authority.

A personal search is carried out by the employee of a search provider, who visits the council office and inspects and records the information kept by the council.

Hackney by any chance?

@Mildura thank you. I googled after your post and found lots of info, sorry I should've just done that.

It's actually Barnet. But I've just found out the conveyancer is using a personal search firm anyway, which is £100 cheaper than the official one. Official one is 11 days.

I wonder if we should just splash out for the official one? Though it could be for nothing if elsewhere in the chain is held up too.

Not London, but we were told to expect a search to to be returned in October! We used a private company, they submitted the request on Friday and we received it today. It cost approx £120 but well worth it. Speak to your solicitor or estate agent as they'll have a contact.

I’ve just had three lots of searches done in SW London. The longest to come back is the local search, which was expected to take over six weeks but my solicitor asked for it to be expedited to four.
Searches themselves may raise queries, but I’ve had all other answered, signed the contract, done survey etc and had all gas certificates and completion certificates from seller.
My solicitor was not keen on the no search indemnity, as you may have decided not to buy at all depending what it says. However, having bought and sold well over 20 properties I’ve never had an issues with the searches.

Our conveyancer asked for expediting but was told no. I asked if they might user another personal search firm and they said they didn't know any. So now they're trying to get a refund from the original search firm, and instead pay more for the official search from the LA. What palaver. I would have thought they'd check with me first anyway which to use, seeing one was going to be so delayed.

£285 for official and £175 for personal 😨😨