FAQs About Conveyancing in Stevenage
We’ve done the hard work and researched everything you need to know about buying a house in Stevenage. Our research shows that the total cost of a Local Authority Search with Stevenage Council will be £82.90 which is made up of the Con29 and LLC1.
There is an overall low risk of flooding in Stevenage, with some areas posing a medium threat. Radon gas levels are also low but there is some potential for contaminated land due to some brownfield sites. All of this will be covered in your conveyancing searches ordered and organised by your conveyancer.
How Much Are Conveyancing Search Costs in Stevenage?
Conveyancing searches make up an important part of the conveyancing process. They consist of the Local Authority, Environmental and Water and Drainage Search and will reveal important details about the property and land it was built on.
According to Stevenage’s council website, the full cost of a Local Authority search is £80.60 including VAT. This is made up of the Con29 which costs £53 and the LLC1 which is £17. The cost of additional parcels of land such as a garage or unit will cost £12.
The con29 enquiries will cost £12 for Q4, Q5 to 21 is £6 each and Q22 is £24. Your solicitor may have further enquiries from the results of the search so an additional enquiry will cost £12.72.
Your conveyancing solicitor will be responsible for ordering the searches, it’s one of the first things they’ll do. They’ll also chase up the council and talk you through the results. Your conveyancer can then order further searches is necessary.
Basic Search LLC1 + CON29 Residential
£82.90 inc VAT
This is the total cost of both the LLC1 and the CON20 form and is the full Local Authority Search.
Additional Parcels of Land
£12 inc VAT
If you're need information about a separate garage or unit.
Q4, Q4 to 21 and Q22
£12-24 inc VAT
Q4 - £12 Q4-Q21 - £6 each Q22 - £24
Additional enquiry
£13.08 inc VAT
If your solicitor has any specific enquiries in addition to the results.
Local Authority Search costs taken from Stevenage Council's website, 2021
What Are the Flood Risks in Stevenage?
Your environmental search will reveal if the property or nearby land is at risk of flooding. If your search reveals a flood risk, your conveyancer will suggest ordering further flood searches to be safe. It’s important to have these further searches as if you buy a house that’s at risk of flooding, it will be difficult to sell and can lose value.
According to the UK Flood Risk Map, there is a medium risk of flooding in Stevenage from rivers or sea. This means that there’s a 1-3.3% chance of flooding each year. However, the council’s websites states that there is a low risk of serious flooding in Stevenage. Postcodes SG1 1TX, SG1 1TS and SG1 1XN have a medium risk of flooding.
There are more areas at risk of flooding from surface water in Stevenage, with a mixture of medium and high warnings. Naturally, areas near the River Beane are at a risk of 3.3% plus of flooding each year.
Are There Ground Stability Concerns in Stevenage?
Ground stability concerns include issues like subsidence or landslides and will be highlighted in your environmental search. Your conveyancing solicitor will order the searches and guide you through the results, ordering further searches if required.
Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a property sinks and plus its foundations with it. Many homes across the UK are subject to subsidence and the first sign of it is large cracks. The searches will reveal if the area is at risk of subsidence, but further to this, your property survey will be able to say if the property has or is at risk of subsidence.
According to Geobear’s subsidence map, there is a medium risk of subsidence in Stevenage. There have been reports of trees causing subsidence to a few properties in the area, with the council rectifying this issue. As Stevenage isn’t as densely populated with a large population and huge office building like cities such as London, the risk isn’t as damaging.
- 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 Stevenage?
Radon gas is a colourless and odourless gas that is present all throughout the UK. Some areas are at a higher risk of higher levels of the gas. Your environmental search will reveal if the property is in a radon affected area and your solicitor can order further in-depth searches to be safe.
According to the UK’s Radon Gas Map, there is a low risk of radon gas in Stevenage. Most areas of Stevenage are in the lowest band of radon potential, which means less than 1 % of homes are above the Action Level. Just north of Stevenage, Letchworth is subject to radon gas, with some areas in bands of elevated radon potential, with the maximum radon potential being 1-3 %.
Rest assured, radon gas is mostly harmless as it’s produced naturally. However, if you’re subjected to large amounts of radon gas it can lead to health issues. Talk to your conveyancer if you have any concerns and they can offer their expert legal and professional advice.
Is Contaminated Land An Issue in Stevenage?
If the land on or nearby your property is contaminated, this will be highlighted in your environmental search. It’s important to know about contaminated land because not only could this devalue the property, but it can cause a threat to your health.
According to Stevenage council’s website, some land in Stevenage has been contaminated by industry use in the past. Gasworks, tanneries, chemical works and landfills were once in Stevenage, which are known as brownfield sites.
Brownfield sites are a cause for concern as there could be potentially harmful substances on or under the land. If the house you’re buying was built on a brownfield site, then the conveyancing searches will flag this.
Your conveyancer will assess the results of the searches and order further searches if necessary. As the searches will be carried out quite early on in the process, there is still time to pull out of the sale if anything really damaging is revealed.
