Buyer's Pre-Contract Searches and Enquiries (Stage 2C)

Question 1

What type of search must B’s solicitor always carry out?

Answer 1

Local search

Question 2

Under a local search form, what are local financial land charges?

Answer 2

Registration of charges made against the property by the local authority which in some way burdens the property

Question 3

What 3 things should B’s solicitor do if they find the existence of local financial land charges?

Answer 3

1. Raise enquiries
2. Ask S’s solicitor to undertake to repay the charges
3. Procure their removal from the register

Question 4

Besides local financial land charges, what 4 other things can a local search/register include?

Answer 4

1. Planning arrangements
2. Listed buildings
3. Standard enquiries (e.g. public rights of way)
4. Optional searches (for an additional fee)

Question 5

Which optional search will discover whether the property abuts or is adjacent to a town or village green in common land, that is, it will discover land that is designated for public use?

Answer 5

Commons registration search

Question 6

A listed building cannot be _________, extended, or altered without a listed building consent from the ______ _________

Answer 6

demolished, local authority

Question 7

Which search would establish details about water supply, metering, and proximity of a public sewer?

Who conducts this search?

Answer 7

Drainage and water search

Buyer’s solicitor

Question 8

Which search would determine whether land is contaminated?

Who conducts this search?

Answer 8

Environmental search

Buyer’s solicitor

Question 9

When will a search of an index map be conducted by the buyer’s solicitor?

What does it reveal?

Answer 9

When the seller says a property is unregistered

The search will reveal if the property is fully/partially registered

Question 10

What search will be conducted if the seller is a company?

Who conducts this search?

Answer 10

Company search

Buyer’s solicitor

Question 11

What search will be conducted if the buyer is obtaining a mortgage?

Who. conducts this search?

Answer 11

Bankruptcy search

Buyer’s solicitor

Question 12

What will the buyer’s solicitor send the seller/landlord if the property is commercial?

Answer 12

A copy of the Commercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSE)

Question 13

What 4 things might a CPSE ask about?

Answer 13

1. Boundaries
2. Condition of property
3. Fire safety info
4. Planning regulations