Conveyancing enquiries, also known as pre-contract enquiries or property enquiries are an important part of the house buying process. Buying a home is a long process, so it pays to know how every step in the process works.
If you haven’t heard of enquiries, it’s good idea to arm yourself with the facts so you know what you’ll be facing when it comes to asking the right questions about your potential new home.
In this guide we’ll:
Define what enquiries are when home buying
Explain when you might raise an enquiry
Provide examples of enquiries when buying a home
Outline how long enquiries take
List the next steps after enquiries
What are enquiries when buying a house?
When you buy a house, enquiries are the formal questions that need to be asked when researching such a high-cost investment. They are usually raised by your solicitor.
Imagine you’re at a car garage, looking for a new car for everyday trips with your growing family. You would have already seen the car you’re interested in on the showroom’s website - now you will want to chat with a salesperson to get more granular details on the car.
A similar process is carried out when buying a home. Your solicitor will raise questions with the seller’s solicitor with the purpose of solving any issues before contracts are exchanged.
When do you raise enquiries when buying a house?
Enquiries are typically raised after the initial stages of the conveyancing process.
Pre-contract enquiries are usually raised by your solicitor after your offer has been accepted. At this time, you should have received a draft contract from the other side’s solicitors. You should also have received the property’s title deeds and other supporting documents.
Your solicitor will carefully examine the documents to ensure that they are accurate and complete. During this review, they may identify areas that require further clarification or information.
Based on this review, the solicitor will then prepare a list of enquiries or questions.
What does it mean to raise enquiries when buying a house?
Enquiries seek additional details about the property, its history, any ongoing legal matters, and other relevant information. By raising these enquires, any concerns or potential issues can be highlighted and both sides can reach an agreement.
Once the requested documents are raised by your solicitor, they will ask probing questions. They may raise a property search; this process ensures homebuyers have all the facts about a property they need.
Are searches included in conveyancing?
Yes! When you hire Lawhive for your conveyancing, we include essential searches in your total quote. These searches help uncover any hidden legal, environmental, or financial risks with the property you’re buying.
Compulsory searches (if you’re buying with a mortgage)
If you’re using a mortgage to buy your home, your lender will require these searches to be carried out:
1. Local authority search
What it checks:
Any debts registered against the property
Whether the property is listed, in a conservation area, or subject to planning restrictions
Upcoming road or rail developments nearby
Whether roads and accessways are publicly maintained
Potential contamination risks
If the property is in a radon-affected area
How it’s done: We work with independent agencies to search the local council’s land charges service.
2. Water and drainage search
What it checks:
If the property is near public sewers and water mains
Whether it’s connected to a public water supply
If a public sewer runs within its boundaries
How it’s done: A search agent enquires with the local water company.
3. Environmental search
What it checks:
If the land was previously used for industry or landfill
Whether contamination is a risk
Risks of landslips, subsidence, or flooding
How it’s done: A search agent consults specialist environmental records.
4. Coal mining search (compulsory in mining areas)
What it checks:
Whether past mining activity could cause ground instability
How it’s done: A search agent enquires with the Coal Authority.
Optional searches
Depending on the property’s location, we may recommend extra searches:
Commons Registration Search (for rural properties near common land)
How it’s done: We check with the local commons registration authority.
How much do searches cost?
Search fees vary by location but typically range from £200 to £500.
How long do searches take?
Local authority search: 2 to 6 weeks (depends on the council)
Other searches: Usually completed within a few days
How long are searches valid?
Searches are valid for six months. If your purchase takes longer, we may need to update them.
Do I need searches if I’m buying with cash?
Searches aren’t mandatory if you’re buying without a mortgage, but we strongly recommend them. If you choose to skip them, you may need to sign a disclaimer.
Examples of enquiries raised when buying a property
We’ve already mentioned some of the types of enquiries that will need to be raised when buying a new home.
In addition, there are a considerable number of enquiries that are necessary when buying a property, which include:
Boundaries – the exact boundaries of the property need to be confirmed; this can help ease future disputes with neighbours
Disputes – are there any ongoing disputes about which fixtures and fittings will remain in the house?
Easements and covenants – though intimidating legal terms, this type of enquiry seeks to determine whether there are rights of way through the property, or restrictions on what can be done to the property
Fixtures and fittings – what will sellers leave in the property?
Leasehold enquiries – you’ll need to know how long is left on the property’s leasehold if it is a leasehold property. Your solicitor will check whether the terms of the lease are correct and the arrangements for management and repair
Ownership – this is a vital step. The purpose is to confirm the seller legally owns the property and has the right to sell it
Services – confirm that gas and electrical services are connected and in working order
Structural enquiries – you’ll need to determine that the house is structurally sound before exchanging contracts. This enquiry will raise any known issues about the house. These include damp and subsidence. Checks on building permissions are also necessary if the house is still being constructed, or extensions are being added
How long do enquiries take when buying a house?
The enquiry process can be lengthy: typically anywhere from one week up to a month (and sometimes longer). This is because there is a lot of back-and-forth communication required between solicitors, the buyers and the sellers.
The timeline will depend on the responsiveness of all parties and complexity of the sale.
Whilst this wait can be frustrating, try to remember a longer process can be a good thing, as a thorough set of enquiries and answers will mean fewer issues down the line.
What happens after enquiries when buying a house?
After all the enquiries raised have been answered to yours and your solicitor’s satisfaction, the buying process can continue. Both parties will then have clarity on the upcoming transaction.
The next step is for you to read the report compiled by your solicitor based on their enquiries. If you have any further questions, you must ask them at this point.
If you don't have any further questions, you’re ready to sign the contract! This is a momentous time for any first-time buyer. Next - the wait for the exchange of contracts.
Your solicitor and the seller’s solicitor will agree a date for the exchange of contracts. On the agreed date you will pay a deposit, which then legally binds the sale. This means neither you, or the seller, can back out without the potential of being asked to pay costs.
When the contracts are exchanged, a completion day is set, the remainder of the sale price will be transferred to the seller (your mortgage) and the keys can be collected.
When you’ve reached this point, congratulations will be in order as you will own your first home. Result!
We can help answer any questions you have about conveyancing
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