Environmental information for house sales

Citation

(2000), "Environmental information for house sales", Property Management, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/pm.2000.11318aab.001

Environmental information for house sales

Environmental information for house sales

Keywords: Housing, Environment, Sales

A new scheme has been launched nationwide to provide essential environmental information to home buyers and vendors on any property in the UK, following a successful trial period in London, East Anglia and Bristol. The new Home Envirosearch report, covering an area up to 500 metres radius of a property, discloses environmental information and identifies potential risks not covered by the local authority search. The scheme will also be available in Wales from March 1999 and Scotland later in the year.

According to Paul Howden, a partner at Ringrose & Co., Solicitors of Boston, many clients would rather be aware of any problems before purchasing a property and they welcome a service which will provide such important information. Furthermore, a Government study into the best ways of reducing difficulties for those selling and buying houses has suggested that sellers assemble an information pack at the very start of the process to present to buyers when they express an interest in the house. Mr Howden says "Home Envirosearch discovers far more than the statutory searches. We are delighted to be able to offer Home Envirosearch as part of the service we offer to our clients".

Available from Solicitors for just £39.00, the new Home Envirosearch report is simple to understand and provides information on past and present land uses including registered landfill sites and potentially contaminative industrial activities, quickly and inexpensively. Such information will help the home-buyer to make an informed decision about purchasing a property and whether it will provide a suitable environment and investment for their family.

David Impey, Marketing Director of Jordans Limited, the largest supplier of support services to the legal profession, comments "We recognised the growing demand for high-quality environmental information to help home-buyers make an informed decision and to help them decide whether they need to seek further specialist advice ahead of purchase. The general public is becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues particularly those that could affect the home in which they live."

Using regularly updated information supplied by the Environment Agency, Ordnance Survey and other national data sources, Home Envirosearch goes on to highlight registered waste transfer, treatment or disposal sites, and premises licensed to keep radioactive materials and other hazardous substances. The report also includes details of overhead transmission lines and pylons, the risk of flooding and subsidence and whether or not the property is in an area affected by Radon Gas.

Home Envirosearch is produced by Landmark Information Group Limited and distributed to Solicitors by Jordans Limited and by information management specialists Geodesys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglian Water plc. As part of the Daily Mail and General Trust Group of companies, Landmark is now the leading provider of environmental, contamination and land use information to environmental and geotechnical consultants, utilities, developers, solicitors and surveyors. Landmark is now making its expertise available to consumers.

Landmark's capability is based on its database of environmental and property information which is the largest of its kind in Europe. Its EnviroCheck and SiteCheck reports are used extensively to evaluate land, properties and the suitability of "brown field" sites for redevelopment. The Government recently published a discussion document which indicated its policy to build 60 per cent of new homes on "brown field" sites over the next ten years.