What Buyers Often Miss Before Making an Offer (UK)
Common blind spots: lease length, service charges, flood zones, informal alterations, and relying on listings instead of source data.
Published: 15 Apr 2026 · Updated: 15 Apr 2026 · 6 min read
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Listings are marketing, not evidence
Photos and descriptions are not warranties. The same address on official registers may show different facts — always cross-check.
Lease and charges
Short leases and aggressive ground-rent terms can crater mortgage availability. Buyers who only discover this after a survey may still pay for wasted legal work.
Evidence of works
Loft conversions and extensions without building regulations completion certificates can delay or derail a sale. Ask early whether paperwork exists.
Environmental screening
Flood and ground-stability screening exists nationally — use it before you emotionally anchor on a price.
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