Ensure you understand your surface waters rainwater route- any route involving Riparian drainage routes (private drainage,pipes or ditches that were use historically and still are the route that is used in many areas of the country as water leaves the main road you’re on). They can be a nightmare. But in any case check whether your surface water runs to drains or soak aways as you can also get deduction of water bill if you don’t run surface water to drains. I’d personally ask solicitor for a full drainage map from water company and lists of any flood alerts raised by property with lead local flood authorities. But then I’ve been bittern badly by this with home owners lying to me about historic flood issues . Oddly there’s less issues with sewage routes.
on a simalar note, I’d want to ask specific questions to my vendors about flooding and not standard ones. But agian that’s cos they lied on the standard questions. I’d ask 1. Have you ever had to remove, dry up or disperse water entering any part of building, outhouses or garages 2. Have you ever had standing water more than 2cm deep in any part of the grounds including driveways, garden or buildings, outhouses, garage 3. Have you ever had to raise floor or ground levels or add additional drainage to manage surface water 4. Have you ever used, deployed or purchased a form of flood defence at the property such as a sand bag
id be asking solicitor explicitly about any covenants or easements rights in deeds or neighbouring property (shared boundaries) deeds. Making sure I understood the burden or benefit to my property and understand whose property that is connected to and why. Some of these can be restrictive and ancient. But even if previous people were never effected by such a burden or benefit it doesn’t mean that won’t change . Getting rid of easements or covenants is expensive
make Sure the solicitor has copies of ALL planning consents and building completion certificates (what’s required to say building regs have been met, on all works on the property back to time it was built , or at least 50 years. Again don’t skimp on this or be fobbed off by home owner saying it didn’t need planning approval or building regs. They need to provide some evidence that they contacted council and got confirmation of this and that is handed to you. This will include any changes to door/window positions, any changes to roofs (including just replacing a glass conservatory roof with solid roof), changes to piping like soil pipes, changes to size on ground or upper floors, new Gagare or outbuildings or any structure over 2 metres etc. Make sure you get FENSA cert for all windows replaced in last 5 years. My solicitors said they couldn’t find older planning applications docs for my property done in late 1960/1970, yet my architect, just one year later, got the detials in less than 2 days. Don’t let solicitor fob you off that they can’t find them. If they were done, the council WILL have records even if they’re not on the public electronic portal.
if the house has trees in garden, check all tress are 3 m from yours or neighbours property walls. Or insist they remove trees. If it’s a neighbours tree ask your vendor why it was planted there or why property was built there…and have they discussed the issue with their neighbour. check protection status on all native mature trees on your grounds and neighbouring properties where on boundary. Trees are a nightmare really. Too many people plant wrong trees for domestic gardens, or plant the right tree in the worng place. It’s one of biggest bones of contention between neighbours .
on surveying side :
if you’ve not got it, insist on a gas safety cert
id also get a electrically safety survey done - rewiring is very disruptive and potentially expensive so you need to know what you’re taking on if house is older than 30 years .
if there are flat roofs in domestic areas . check to see if old school cold platform roofs or if they’re new warm platform. Any works done on flat roofs in last 15 years ask to see both details of what exactly as done and warentees. Steer clear of cold roof felt bitumen unless you want to spend £50k in replacing them in next 15 years to meet government targets around removing gas boilers.