Searches overhaul needed to help meet housebuilding goals
A radical overhaul of the way local searches are carried out is required if the Government’s housebuilding targets are to be met, according to an Staffordshire industry expert.
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Richard Bray, managing director of the UK’s largest independent searches specialist Move Reports, said the time some Local Authorities are taking to complete local searches for property purchases is “completely ridiculous” and threatens to put the brakes on the Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes over the course of this parliament.
“Some Local Authorities have managed to cut their waiting times for local searches, but others are still performing woefully,” said Richard, speaking during National Conveyancing Week.
“It remains a postcode lottery. There are Local Authority areas where searches are still taking 40 or 50 days, which is completely ridiculous.
“My fear is once the market improves, even the Local Authorities which have demonstrated some improvement will slip backwards again. We cannot afford to go back to the astonishing 177-day average we saw in 2023.
“If we are to get anywhere near the number of new homes proposed by the Government, the way Local Authorities act needs to change dramatically or it will just hold up the whole market.
“Sometimes delays can be just a frustration, but in some cases they can cause deals to completely collapse.”
Richard said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of solicitors and new build developers using Move Reports’ fast-track services to dramatically reduce waiting times on local searches.
Move Reports, headquartered in Essington, can produce local searches for new builds in 24 hours and, on average, within two weeks for second-hand properties, by also removing the need to wait for client funds on account that could add further weeks in delays to the process.
“We are only one of a few remaining truly independent companies offering this service, which helps us ensure our clients get the best product. We offer a bespoke client-by-client service which delivers results, helping house buyers exchange and complete as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
“We are also the UK’s only new homes search specialist and can produce all the required search results for new builds in 24 hours, that can be sent with the reservation instructions or simply downloaded by the conveyancer.
“We achieve this extraordinary turnaround by being proactive rather than reactive. Our team of experienced property professionals draw from their commercial and residential experience to prepare a bespoke New Homes search pack for every development across the country.
