FAQs About Conveyancing in Coventry
Compare My Move work hard to inform you of everything you need to know about your move to Coventry. Conveyancing can be a daunting process, so that's why we've researched the most common questions to help with your move.
Our research shows that there's a high risk of flooding in Coventry and a low risk of subsidence. The total cost of a Local Authority Search in Coventry is £128 according to the council website. A conveyancer will highlight any issues with the property or land around the property when they carry out conveyancing searches.
How Much Are Conveyancing Searches in Coventry?
When you’re buying a house in Coventry, your conveyancer will be responsible for arranging conveyancing searches. These will be usually offered as a package from your conveyancer and will be made up of a Local Authority Search, an Environmental Search and a Water and Drainage Search.
The Local Authority Search is one of the main conveyancing searches and will be carried out via your local council. A Local Authority Search is detailed searches into the local area and will provide important information on planning applications, enforcement activity and any charges on the property being sold.
According to Coventry’s council website, the total cost for a Local Authority Search is £128. This includes the Local Land Charges and the Con29 for one unit of property or parcel of land. There’s an additional option of the Con290, which will cost £12 for each printed enquiry numbered in the form.
For the Local Land Charges alone, it will cost £20 and for an extra parcel, it will cost £25.20. The Con290 form is optional and you have the chance to include extra questions for your local authority to answer.
Your conveyancer will organise these searches along with the Environmental and Water and Drainage Search. Your conveyancing searches might reveal the need for further searches, which should be arranged with your conveyancer. Below is the breakdown cost of a Local Authority Search, taken from the Coventry City Council website.
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Local Land Charges Search (LLC1)
£20.00 inc VAT
Searches are submitted to us and we provide information about planning applications, building regulation applications, enforcement activity, conditions or other charges on the property or land being sold.
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LLC1 and Con29 for one unit of property or parcel of land
£128.00 inc VAT
Covers search enquiries an LLC1 and Con29 for one unit of property or parcel of land.
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CON290 form
£12.00 inc VAT
For each printed enquiry numbered of the CON29 form.
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Extra parcel
£25.20 inc VAT
N/A
Local Authority Search costs taken from Coventry City Council's website, correct as of June 2020
What are the Flood Risks in Coventry?
During the conveyancing process, your conveyancer will organise an Environmental Search to discover if the house is at risk of flooding. According to a government flood risk map, Coventry has a high risk of flooding meaning that each year Coventry’s change of flooding is greater than 3.3%. The majority of Coventry falls under the category “above flood risk threshold”, according to a map created by Coventry council.
In Coventry, there are 3,953 properties that are considered at medium risk of flooding and 2,038 are at high risk of flooding, according to data from the Environment Agency. The postcodes CV11, CV37 and CV34 have a 4.9%, 3.2% and 2.7% high or medium risk of being flooded, respectively.
Coventry City Council has a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy in place to ensure they deliver an effective flood risk management and help prevent flooding where possible. The document provides details of how and when the council will implement measures and how they assess local flood risks.
If you’re thinking of buying a house in Coventry, you will need to hire a conveyancer to help with the legal side of the sale. They will organise Local Authority, Environmental and Water and Drainage searches which will reveal if your property is in a flood risk area. They’ll also arrange further searches such as a Flood Risk Search if necessary.
Are There Ground Stability Concerns in Coventry?
During your Environmental Search, your conveyancer will organise a ground stability search to reveal any unstable ground surrounding your property. The ground stability search will highlight any risk of subsidence that was caused due to coal mining and other factors that could affect the instability of the ground.
Geobear’s UK subsidence map shows that although Coventry has a risk of subsidence, the risk is of a low to moderate level. Coventry’s subsidence could have occurred from its history of coal mining, with a greater chance of subsidence happening when a shallow coal mine closes. The Coal Authority’s mine map shows how Coventry has a significant amount of past shallow coal mines.
If you’re buying a house in Coventry, it’s vital your conveyancer carries out a Ground Stability report as part of your conveyancing searches. Furthermore, if there are any concerns with the results, your conveyancer can organise a Coal Mining Search for more information.
- Reveals instability issues from natural or man-made hazards.
- Highlights historic and current landfill sites.
- Identifies natural ground subsidence.
- Recognises historic tin, coal, clay and any other mining activity.
What are the Radon Gas Levels in Coventry?
During your Local Authority Search, the local council will determine if there is a high level of radon gas present near your property. The Con29 form will ask questions relating to the threat of radon gas in and near the property. The search will highlight if the house is directly in a high-risk area or the specific distance to the nearest radon affected area.
According to a UK radon gas map, some areas of Coventry are in bands of elevated radon potential, with the maximum radon gas potential at 1-3%. Whilst this may seem concerning, it should reassure you to know radon gas is present throughout the whole of the UK, with most levels remaining low.
We’ve researched the areas of Coventry with a slightly higher presence of radon gas. The areas of Coventry that are in the bands of elevated radon potential are Coventry Walsgrave Triangle, Walsgrave on Sowe, Walsgrave Road, Rugby Road, Anstey Road and Binley Road.
For peace of mind, your conveyancing searches will determine whether or not there is any risk of increasing radon levels in your area. If at any time you feel concerned or have queries, your conveyancer is there to help.
Is Contaminated Land an Issue in Coventry?
When you’re buying a house, it’s important to be aware of if the property is built on or near contaminated land that can be potentially hazardous to health or the environment. Contaminated land is typically land that was once used as a mine, factory or landfill. Your Local Authority Search and Environmental Search will reveal if your property is in close proximity to a contaminated land site.
Coventry once had a rich coal mining industry, with several collieries in the North East. After 74 years of operation, Coventry Colliery closed in 1991. At one point, it was the largest colliery in the region and produced 850,000 tonnes per year. According to Coventry council, there are no active collieries in Coventry.
Coventry Council has a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy in place to regulate and monitor potential land that is contaminated. The council has identified 2,685 sites of potentially contaminated land, however, 75% of these sites are considered low risk. 20% of these sites are to be cleaned up through the planning development control process and of the remaining 5%, half of these have not met the “high risk” criteria.
Your conveyancer will be responsible for arranging your conveyancing searches that will highlight any risk of the house being near contaminated land. It’s important to find out if your house is built on or is near land that is contaminated as it could affect your property’s value in the future, as well as posing a threat to your health and the environments.
