Property search delays ‘blight’ market and tie-ins ‘must be outlawed’ insists agents chief
Search agents leader Andrew Prismall says it's taking up to three months to receive a report and local agents have the best chance of getting it done quickly.
Property searches are taking up to three months in some places with a postcode lottery blighting the homebuying process.
That’s the view of Andrew Prismall, chairman of IPSA (Association of Independent Property Search Agents), who goes on to say that changes are needed.
He says the delays stifling parts of the housing market are sometimes unavoidable, and there are ways of speeding up transactions for the benefit of buyers.
Local authorities are under pressure, he admits, but says that buyers’ solicitors and estate agents can support speedier outcomes by reviewing how searches are conducted.
120 days
“A recent report which shows buyers in Bolton were waiting up to 120 days, doesn’t surprise us sadly, and highlights the need for wholesale changes in how property searches are approached,” he says.
“A search agent with good local knowledge and good working relationships with their local planning department can often get a search done in a matter of days.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people now find themselves tied into packages from estate agents – especially online agents – which limits their choice when it comes to which conveyancers and search agents handle their sale.”
IPSA’s ‘Make the Switch’ campaign has seen it working with the conveyancing sector to encourage the use of local search agents rather than out-sourcing to external panels, which is where delays are common.
We would like to see these ‘tie-ins’ outlawed.”
Andrew adds: “They are often told they have to use the professionals recommended by the agent or pay higher fees.
“It is time all buyers were free to choose a local, independent search agent, and we would like to see these ‘tie-ins’ outlawed.”
