Check Before You Buy
Property Buyer Guides

Know more about the property before you buy it.

Practical guides to help you research a property, understand the surrounding area and spot important questions to investigate before making one of life’s biggest financial commitments.

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Before you make an offer

Finding the right property is only the beginning.

A viewing can tell you how a property feels. It cannot always tell you everything that might matter when deciding whether to buy it.

Flood risk, nearby planning applications, the property’s history and the wider area can all be worth investigating.

Our Property Buyer Guides are designed to make that research easier. They explain what to look for, why it could matter and where to find reliable information from official sources.

Start your research

Three essential property buyer guides

Start with the complete checklist or explore a specific issue that could affect the property you’re considering.

01

What to Check Before Buying a House

A practical starting point for researching a property before you commit. Explore the key checks worth considering, from the property itself to the surrounding area.

Read the complete checklist →
02

How to Check Planning Applications Near a Property

Find out how to investigate proposed developments, extensions and other planning applications that could affect a property or its surroundings.

Check nearby planning →
03

How to Check Flood Risk Before Buying a House

Learn how to investigate long-term flood risk and why it can be important to understand the different types of flooding that may affect a property.

Understand flood risk →
Why research matters

A beautiful viewing doesn’t always show you the bigger picture.

Buying a property is a major commitment. Taking time to investigate the property and its surroundings can help you go into the process with better information.

The aim isn’t to find a property with no potential issues. It’s to understand what you’re buying, identify anything that deserves a closer look and know which questions to ask next.

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Look beyond the front door Research the wider location as well as the property itself.
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Spot areas worth investigating Identify information that may warrant further questions or professional checks.
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Use reliable sources Where possible, go back to government, council and other authoritative sources rather than relying on assumptions.
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Ask better questions Use what you discover to inform conversations with estate agents, conveyancers, surveyors and other relevant professionals.
Useful official services

Start with trusted sources.

Our guides explain how to use relevant information when researching a property. You can also access these official government services directly.

GOV.UK: Buying a Home Official guidance covering the home-buying process in England and Wales. Search Planning Decisions Use your postcode to find the relevant local council planning register. Check Long-Term Flood Risk Use the official service to investigate long-term flood risk for an area in England.
Please note: Property buying processes and official services can differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our individual guides make clear where a service applies. Check Before You Buy provides property research and information and is not a substitute for conveyancing, surveys, searches, valuations or professional legal or financial advice.

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