Compare Conveyancing Solicitors in Romford

Local Land Charges searches are an essential part of the conveyancing process. The results these searches produce can inform potential purchasers of essential information about the property, much of which is held by the local authority, in this case Havering council, as Romford is located in the London Borough of Havering.. 

These reports include information on the flood risks in the area, if there are any planning permissions in place and details of past industrial activity which may have had a negative impact on the land. 

Your conveyancer will organise these searches on your behalf and supply you with the reports once they are completed. It’s important to pay close attention to the content of the reports and raise any issues or concerns you have with your conveyancer. 

Cost for these searches will depend on the location of the property. Below we’re listed the costs of the searches for Romford as per the Havering council website.

As part of the Environmental searches during the conveyancing process, your conveyancer will arrange for a Ground Stability report to be completed on the property and the surrounding area. This will reveal any risks of landslide, subsidence or any other concern regarding the stability of the ground which the home resides. 

Due to its proximity to the centre of London, Romford may be at risk of some ground stability issues. Subsidence is a relatively common problem across the UK due to the clay-heavy soil types in the country. However, in areas such as London, increased weight and pressure on the ground due to multiple buildings concentrated in one area means that ground stability becomes more of a concern. These areas are also put under strain by the growing population and subsequent additional housing requirements. 

A map created by Geobear identifying the UK subsidence hotspots shows that although Romford has less subsidence concerns than central London, the area has a certain level of risk which is worth taking into consideration when reading through your ground stability report. 

When it comes to buying your home, subsidence is an element which will appear in both your conveyancing searches and in a report compiled by  a surveyor, should you choose to have a survey undertaken. You can find both high quality, regulated conveyancers and surveyors by using Compare My Move, ensuring your Romford property purchase is in good hands. 

Contaminated Land Searches, conducted on the land surrounding the property, will take into account the historic industrial use of the land. This includes current and past industrial use, waste and landfill and contaminated land liability. 

Up until the early 19th century, the area of Romford was focused on the leather industry, with other industries including cloth making, weaving, charcoal burning, metal working and brewing associated with the area. Many of the above industries and businesses had the potential to impact the land, such as textile dyes and treatments. The burning of charcoal is also likely to have created pollution which settled in the earth. 

Light industry research in Romford reached its peak in the 1970s with a number of factories in the area such as Sheet Metalworks, manufacturers of wireless components and brush manufacturers Betterware. Again, these industries may have had an impact on the land.

Your environmental report, covering any contaminated land concerns, will be graded as “passed” or if action is required. If your report reveals that action is required, it does not necessarily mean that the property is unsuitable for dwelling, but your conveyancer will need to arrange further assessments to gain a full understanding of the issues raised.