PropertyHistoryCheck

Property checks to do before buying a UK house

A pre-offer checklist that takes 5 minutes per property. Most are free; the paid ones are tiny against the cost of getting any of them wrong.

  1. Step 1

    Confirm the asking price is sane

    Pull the sales history. If the property has tripled in 5 years with no extension, ask why.

  2. Step 2

    Check tenure (freehold vs leasehold)

    If leasehold, confirm years remaining. Sub-80 years is a deal-breaker for most lenders.

  3. Step 3

    Check the flood band

    Even a Medium banding will cost you on insurance. High triggers Flood Re and serious lender questions.

  4. Step 4

    Check coal mining reporting area

    If yes, plan for a £60 CON29M before exchange.

  5. Step 5

    Check restrictive covenants

    Look for clauses that ban running a business from home or building extensions.

  6. Step 6

    Check listed building status

    Listed = consent required for ANY alteration. Factor in the cost and friction.

  7. Step 7

    Check conservation area

    Restricts windows, signage, paint colours, parking and trees.

  8. Step 8

    Check EPC rating

    F or G triggers retrofit obligations for landlords from 2030. Buyers price this in.

  9. Step 9

    Check crime profile

    Don't only look at totals — look at the categories. ASB and burglary at scale matter for resale.

  10. Step 10

    Check planning history within 250m

    A pending tower-block consent next door changes the maths.