I may be coming to this subject late, but I have noticed that a local search will be required as part of the home information pack.

I am sure that the government is expecting lawyers and valuers to defer their fees until a sale has completed, but will the local authority wait for payment? I doubt it.


Also, when did a local search become acceptable after three months? No doubt this will be part of the regulations to be made by the government in due course, but will it be acceptable to the lenders? Have they been consulted and approved the change? Again, I doubt it and the reality will be a buyer having to obtain a second search, which will simply increase the cost of the transaction without any benefit in terms of speed or a guarantee that the transaction will proceed to completion.


Why not have a regulation that allows local search indemnity insurance in place of a search?


Better still, why not have insurance in respect of the title and matters in the seller's property information form? That would dispense with lawyers. Now what did Shakespeare say about those lawyers?


Jonathan McAreavey, DeVine & Co, Ellesmere Port