local authority searches
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Housing Market
15th May 20260 162Council search wait times balloon beyond four months
Property deals are collapsing as local authority search turnarounds are extending longer putting greater pressure on chains.
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Housing Market
3rd Oct 20240 2,485Waiting times for local authority searches now ‘postcode lottery’
Moverly's CEO reveals huge variations of between 11 and 51-day waits for local authority searches, delays that put thousands of property sales in jeopardy every year.
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Latest property news
6th Mar 20240 1,863Research into Local Authority Search wait times reveals huge disparities
While many authorities have managed to reduce their waiting times, it’s clear that some are still struggling when it comes to servicing the market.
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Latest property news
9th May 20230 1,126Property 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 get a report back and local agents have the best chance of getting it done quickly.
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Latest property news
3rd Jan 20170 1,178New VAT charge on local authority searches to cause home move delays, says Law Society
Property buyers must now pay VAT on local authority searches, The Law Society has warned, and some home moves may face delays in the coming weeks as a result. Rumours have been circulating among conveyancers during the run up to the New Year that from 1st January VAT will be added to fees charged for local authority searches, but so far HMRC has refused to confirm or deny these rumours. This, The Law Society says, may cause delays as conveyancers attempt to find out whether or not VAT should be added to bills. “Despite requests for clarification, we have yet to receive a formal response from HMRC about the proposed introduction of VAT on local authority conveyancing searches,” says Law Society president Robert Bourns (pictured). “A lack of clarity around conveyancing processes and costs helps no one and we are asking HMRC urgently to explain if, and if so, how and when these changes will come into effect. Even small delays in the home buying process can have big consequences, including the possibility of a sale falling through, causing enormous stress for consumers. “Property buyers and their solicitors need certainty, so they can focus on completing the transaction quickly and with minimum fuss.…
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