FAQs & Risks

Explaining the risks and answering the common questions you may have.

FAQs

What information do the reports contain?

Each Home Risk Report is prepared by our team of experts and contains clear, concise and up-to-date information to help you make an informed decision regarding the purchase of the property you are interested in. Each report aims to ensure you're armed with the right information and could help you save time and money in the search for a new home.

How much do the reports cost?

Our reports start from a little as £10 each, a fraction of cancelled transaction costs. The reports cover seven of the most commonly searched areas of conveyancing, namely: Contaminated Land, Flood Risk, Ground Stability, Radon, Energy, Planning Applications and Transportation - HS2 & Crossrail.

Are the reports legally binding?

No – the reports are not legally binding but are backed by Professional Indemnity insurance up to the value of £10 million. Each report is designed to provide you with sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding the buying process for the property you are interested in.

Can my Solicitor use this report?

The reports have been specifically designed to help solicitors and conveyancers advise you on what will probably be the biggest purchase of your life.
Your legal representative will also inform you if any further reports or investigations are required in addition to the reports available on Home Risk Reports as part of the conveyancing process.

How do I order a report?

Ordering is quick and straightforward. Simply type in the property postcode, select the address, and the individual report(s) you require and pay via credit, debit card or Paypal. We will send an email when your reports are ready for retrieval. It really is that simple.

How do I receive my reports?

When the reports are ready they will be emailed directly to the email address you provided when ordering in the form of PDF files.

How long does it take to receive my reports?

It depends which report(s) you have ordered, but generally you can expect to receive them within 3 working days of ordering. And some are ready much quicker than this.

How do i choose a solicitor to help me?

Law Plain and Simple is full of information regarding conveyancing and the site has a large directory of solicitors showing the areas of law they practice, follow this link for more information Law Plain And Simple - Find a solicitor.

Risks

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, produced by the radioactive decay of Uranium (238U). Uranium is found in small quantities in all soils and rocks throughout the UK. It is not possible to see or smell radon and specialist equipment is required to detect it.

Energy & Infrastructure

Energy infrastructures are large scale technologies that transport energy from producer to consumer. Common examples of the technologies are wind turbines, wave technologies, fracking sites, solar farms and oil extraction.

Ground Stability

Ground Stability more commonly known as subsidence happens because of natural or man-made hazards, or previous mineral extraction within the vicinity of your potential property.

Note: Subsidence can be a serious issue for homebuyers, with clay soils alone implicated in £3bn insurance claims over the last 10 years.

Climate change is having an undeniable impact on soil conditions which can cause landslides, fissures and shrinkage, all of which can impact the foundations of your property. Subsidence could seriously impact on the insurability of the property in the future; we recommend our Avista Environmental Risk Report is undertaken ahead of the purchase. It’s the smart, simple way to be certain.

Flooding

One in 10 new homes in England are built on land with high flood risk. Since 2013 almost 85,000 new homes have been constructed on flood zones. The risk of flooding has now become a major problem for property owners.

There will be damage and disruption should your home be flooded. It can now be difficult or impossible to obtain insurance cover against flood damage, so it is vital you find out if your home is at risk.

Contaminated Land

Land is legally defined as 'contaminated land' where substances are causing or could cause significant harm to people, property or protected species, significant pollution of surface waters (for example lakes and rivers) or groundwater that could cause harm to people as a result of radioactivity.

HS2

High-Speed 2 is the planned rail network between London, the West Midlands and the North. The first phase will link the capital to Birmingham, while the Y-shaped second phase will link Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds. By the time both phases are finished in 2033 there will be 350 miles of new track.

Crossrail

Crossrail is a 118-kilometre (73-mile) railway line under development in London and the home counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex, England.

What do I do with the search reports?

Talk to your solicitor/estate agent

If you are happy with the results of the reports and want to progress further with a property purchase or sale, you can take these to your solicitor who will be able to use them as part of the conveyancing process.

Speeds up conveyancing

These search reports will help you to speed up the buying or selling of a property.

Questions?

If you find any issues that you are worried about, please contact your estate agent, solicitor or conveyancing specialist who can advise you on the impact they could have to you and the property you have researched.

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