Normally the local and drainage searches should be in the HIP. i can't see much point in redoing a drainage search, but some solicitors prefer to redo local searches which can cost anything from £50 to nearly £300 depending on the local authority.

Many thanks! I wasn't sure as all the charges are way more than I paid when I bought my last house. That was 11 years ago, but still!

Oh well, better bite the bullet... :(

As far as solicitors fees go, it doesn't seem outrageous - and since you don't want to do these searches yourself, then you have to take a view. This company says a typical search of this type should cost between £80 and £140. The chancel fee being a further £120.

http://www.areyoumovinghouse.co.uk/searches.htm

Hi. Thanks for this - but I couldn't see anything related to the other fees. I realise £200 is for the Land Registration, but I am being charged an extra £300 for the following fees:

Local search fee
Water company/drainage search fee
Environment search fee
Chancel check search fee

Does this sound right to you?

Land Registry Fee information:

http://www.landreg.gov.uk/fees/

Search Fee information:

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/property-and-housing/buying-selling-and-renting-a-home/buying-your-home/how_to_find_out_ownership_details_of_property_and_land/how_to_search_the_registers_and_search_fees.htm

I've also asked this in the general forum, but I thought I'd ask the expert as well...

My solicitor has said that it will cost £300 for search fees plus £200 for the land registration fee for a £153,000 house. I know the land registration fee is that much, but does it really cost £300 for the other fees?! I would appreciate some advice!