Homebuyers advised to insist on an Environmental Survey in face of Government complacency

A government decision to drop plans to include an environmental search within the new Home Information Packs (HIPs) could mislead homebuyers into believing the search is unnecessary, according to Landmark Information Group.

As Britain's leading provider of land and property search information, Landmark fears that homebuyers will mistakenly feel that an environmental search is now not a priority, after the government downgraded its inclusion in the HIP from 'mandatory' to 'optional'.

The HIP, which is being introduced in June, is intended to ease delays during property transactions by providing homebuyers with important information about their desired property in advance of making an offer.

'Homebuyers should not be lulled into believing that an environmental search is an added extra that they can do without,' warned James Sherwood-Rogers, Managing Director of Landmark Legal and Financial.

James continued: 'For most people property is their single biggest investment, instructing your solicitor to carry out an inexpensive environmental land search can make all the difference between a good investment or a disastrous one.'

An environmental report by Landmark provides information across a range of environmental liabilities including past industrial use, land contamination, flooding risk, pollution levels, proximity to landfill sites, masts, electricity substations and pylons.

James added: 'Estimates suggest there are 400,000 old industrial sites and 275,000 abandoned rubbish tips. What may appear to be your dream home could also be located close to one of the 46,000 sites currently releasing pollutants into the local environment.'

'The only way to be certain of knowing whether a property is affected is to have an environmental survey carried out by professionals. Insist that your solicitor provides you with a comprehensive environmental and planning report as part of the searches they will be doing on your property purchase'

The warning comes after a spate of widely publicised cases of homeowners falling foul of failing to instruct an environmental survey. In one incident a Cornish couple lost their home when it sank into a disused mineshaft directly beneath it.

Solicitors in the UK received advice from the Law Society as long ago as 2001 to warn homebuyer clients about the potential risks of buying a property on contaminated land and the need for clear information.

Landmark's Homecheck Professional environmental reports cost £32 plus VAT. A Plansearch Plus planning and neighbourhood information report costs £25.53 plus VAT. A discount is available if they are purchased together.

Landmark also provides a free website to check environmental and planning issues against your postcode at Homecheck.co.uk. For further information on Landmark Information Group please contact 0844 844 9966, email info@landmarkinfo.co.uk or visit www.landmarkinfo.co.uk