Conveyancing comes with a language on its own, and for first-time buyers it can feel like everyone else got a phrasebook you didn’t. This jargon buster explains the most common terms you’ll hear during the searches stage of buying a home, in plain English.
What are property searches?
Property searches are legal checks your solicitor orders after your offer is accepted. They uncover information about the property and its surrounding area, from flood risk to planning applications, that you can’t see on a viewing. Our full guide to property searches explains each type in detail.
What is a local authority search?
A local authority search is an official enquiry sent to the council where the property sits. It reveals planning permissions, building regulations approvals, road schemes and other matters that could affect the property. You may see it referred to by its form names, LLC1 and CON29.
What is an environmental search?
An environmental search assesses risks around the property itself, including flooding, land contamination and subsidence. It flags whether the land was previously used for industrial purposes, which could affect the property’s value or your lender’s willingness to lend.
What does subsidence mean?
Subsidence is ground movement beneath a property that can affect its structure, often showing up as cracks in walls. Searches and surveys help identify whether an area has a history of it.
What is a water and drainage search?
This search confirms the property is connected to mains water and sewers. It shows whether public drains run through the land. That matters if you’re planning an extension, as building over a public sewer needs the water company’s agreement.
What is the title of a property?
The title is the legal record of who owns a property, held by HM Land Registry. Your solicitor checks the title to confirm the seller genuinely owns what they’re selling, and to spot anything attached to it, like covenants or easements.
What is a covenant?
A covenant is a rule attached to a property that owners must follow. Common examples include restrictions on building extensions, keeping livestock, or running a business from home. Covenants pass from owner to owner, so they’ll apply to you after completion.
What is an easement?
An easement is a legal right someone else holds over your property. A right of way across your garden, or a neighbour’s right to use a shared drain, are both easements. They’re not necessarily a problem, but you need to know about them before you buy.
What are pre-contract enquiries?
Pre-contract enquiries are formal questions your solicitor sends to the seller’s solicitor about anything the searches, title or contract haven’t fully answered.
What is indemnity insurance?
Indemnity insurance is a one-off policy that protects against a specific legal risk. For example, a missing building regulations certificate for an old extension. It’s often a quick, practical fix that keeps a purchase moving.
What is exchange of contracts?
Exchange is the moment signed contracts are swapped between solicitors and the purchase becomes legally binding. Until exchange, either side can walk away; after it, you’re committed.
What is completion?
Completion is the day the remaining purchase money is transferred, ownership legally passes to you, and you collect the keys. It’s the finish line of the conveyancing process and the start of life in your new home!
Still got questions?
Every purchase is different, and there’s no such thing as a silly question. If you’re buying your first home and want a conveyancing team that explains everything in plain English, get in touch for a free quote.
