Local authority property searches are a postcode lottery

Searches are a compulsory part of a house purchase and will look for things like whether the property is in a flood area, tree preservation orders or if a motorway is to be built at the bottom on the garden.

According to recent research, one in six councils is breaching targets set by the government. The research was undertaken by Move iQ, which is a property advice website set up by TV presenter Phil Spencer, known for his role on Location, Location, Location.

Disparity in cost and time

Search costs range from £44 in Wakefield to a staggering £333.50 in Hammersmith and Fulham. But Wakefield is also fast and takes just one day to get the information compared to Stratford-on-Avon where is takes an unbelievable 95 days.

Four out of five (78%) local authorities charge more than £100 for a standard residential land search, which can take minutes to complete but requires a council employee to search a computer database. A quarter of councils charge more than £150.

The analysis revealed that one council in seven (15%) is failing to meet a government target that requires councils to complete searches in 10 days or less. Across England, just 12% of councils complete the task in three days or less.

The Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Heather Wheeler MP, has written to all local authorities to remind them of the target and the government has vowed to overhaul lengthy delays in the process.

Needless delays and expense

Phil Spencer said that local councils are adding needless delays and expense to the homebuying process,while fees charged by different councils have created a postcode lottery where a search in one area can cost seven times more than it would in another.

He commented: “Conducting a standard search can take minutes, but just eight councils across England and Wales are able to turn round a search request in a day – and a disgracefully high proportion of councils are failing to meet the government’s 10-day target.

“At times the process of buying a home can seem stacked in favour of sellers rather than buyers. In the current market, buyers need all the help they can get and councils should be made to end this unjustifiable red tape minefield – with a cap on fees and targets with teeth.”

Responding to Move iQ’s research, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the continued delays to searches by some councils were “unacceptable”, adding that it is reviewing the data with a view to taking “appropriate action” against councils breaching the 10-day target.

Table: Top 5 slowest councils

Table: Top 4 most expensive councils

Table: Top 5 cheapest councils