When buying a property, it is important to be aware of the searches that will be carried out as part of the conveyancing process. Local authority searches are among the most common, and they can take some time to complete. The local authority will need to check for any environmental issues, such as contaminated land or flooding, and they will also need to confirm that the property has adequate drainage. In addition, the local authority will also need to check for any outstanding planning permission or building regulation applications. All of these checks can take several weeks to complete, so it is important to factor this into your timelines when buying a property.