Conveyancing Explained

July 11, 2008

You can undertake a free check to find out whether your property needs a search undertaking by visiting www.coalminingreports.co.uk and entering the postcode. You can get further information by telephoning the Coal Authority Mining Reports Information Line on 0845 601 2608.

A full coal mining search will show you if the house is within an area that has been mined in the past or could be in the future. This is important to you because if mining has/will take place, then this can cause subsidence and damage to the building. The search also reveals brine extraction.

If the property is situated in the Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton area, then you will need to have your conveyancing solicitor obtain a search in relation to limestone mining, which you will need to pay for.

Similarly, in the Devon or Cornwall areas, clay mining and tin mining searches should be undertaken. Cheshire and Greater Manchester properties need searches in relation to brine extraction and

Hampshire and Dorset properties which are in or near the New Forest need a search undertaking via the Verderers of the New Forest (more info is available at www.verderers.org.uk). This search will reveal whether the property is situated on common land or land affected by common rights. This can mean that a right to graze animals on the open waste land of the New Forest.

Your conveyancing solicitor should check this anyway, but you should really make sure that these searches are done if the area of the property situation is relevant.