Was this flat being used as a health centre? Conveyancing Solicitors in Leicester wanted to know

As most buyers are aware, Conveyancing Solicitors in Leicester carry out a local search on a property when acting for their client.

This search reveals the details of all planning applications which have been made relating to the dwelling.

In most cases the council will usually only give details of applications relating to the specific property referred to in the search application, and not any relating to adjacent homes.

In 2010, Property Lawyer Jane Lim acted for the seller of a flat on Fosse Road, Leicester LE3 and   Billson and Sharp of Belvoir Chambers, 17 Bowling Green Street, Leicester, LE1 6AS were the Conveyancing Solicitors in Leicester acting for the buyers. Their enquiries with Leicester Council of New Walk Centre, Welford Place, LE1 6ZG revealed the following entry:

“20042192 - Temporary Health Centre And Car Park (Class D1) (Amended Plan).”

Since the property being sold was a flat in a block of similar apartments, this was something of a puzzle.

The buyers' Leicester Conveyancers were concerned that perhaps one of the units in the block was being used as a health centre, or an adjacent building might be so used, which could have an adverse effect on the residents.

The clients' Conveyancing Solicitor in Leicester solves the mystery

Jane asked her clients whether they were aware of this, but they said they had no knowledge of any part of their building being used other than as flats. She therefore had to make further enquiries, but it was finally discovered that the building had originally been a large Edwardian house which had been converted into flats some years before.

It appeared that before it had been converted it been used temporarily for a clinic. That use had clearly ended when the conversion was carried out, and there was no question of it being revived.

Although it had been a nuisance to have to deal with this extra enquiry, Jane appreciated that the buyers' Conveyancing Solicitors in Leicester had to raise their questions to verify that their client would not be adversely affected by the non-residential use of part of the building. Once this point had been sorted out contracts were soon exchanged and the sale completed.

Local agents Spencers of Halford Street, Leicester, LE1 1JB arranged the sale for the vendors, and thanked Jane for her work in getting the sale completed without delay.