Searches UK now provides advanced Con29M-compliant Terrafirma coal mining reports, offering greater protection to property owners.
With more than 30 significant mining-related collapses reported across the UK over the past twelve months, Terrafirma Mine Searches Limited (Terrafirma) is alerting conveyancers and homebuyers of the importance of carrying out due diligence on ground stability risks when purchasing a new property.
Terrafirma has broadened its suite of TerraSearch® Reports, which now include a Con29M-compliant report providing details on all past, present and planned coal mining activity relating to an individual property address.
According to Richard Page, the former Minister for Small Business, Industry and Energy, The Coal Authority’s database records some 150,000 coal mine shafts and mine entrances, and it is estimated that as many again are unrecorded. There are probably an equal number of entries that are not connected with coal mining.
Using data provided by The Coal Authority (TCA) and Terrafirma’s own unique mining hazards database, an in-house geologist analyses and interprets the data to provide a professional risk assessment in the TerraSearch® Coal Report. Each report includes a coal and brine search indemnity insurance with cover of up to £50,000 and comes with £10 million of liability cover per report. By upgrading to the TerraSearch® Coal Extra Report, users will be alerted to an additional 55 potential mining hazards, including Tin, Clay, Chalk and Gypsum.
Where minerals are presently being mined, or have been mined in the past, there may be a risk to the property above and to the future development of property on that site. In order to ensure the owner continues to have quiet enjoyment of their property they should be made aware of future potential mineral extraction, even though this may not be readily apparent from planning proposals. It is necessary to make mining search enquiries even when there are no obvious signs of mines in the area; when mines are closed they leave little or no residual evidence on the surface but can still cause major problems for land and property owners.
Tom Backhouse, Founder and Managing Director of Terrafirma comments: “Mining is a specialist area of expertise and relying solely on data and regional knowledge is not enough – the data needs professional interpretation so that householders are armed with the best advice and which they can action upon accordingly. The TerraSearch® suite of coal reports has been designed by geologists to provide reliable mining risk assessments, with clear outcomes and next steps, to property professionals. Quite simply it should form part of any standard set of property enquiries.”
Andrew Stenning, Managing Director, at Searches UK said: “Since Terrafirma’s launch in 2016, Searches UK has received great feedback in regards to their highly proficient mining and mineral extraction reports. We are therefore delighted to now be able to provide our clients with Terrafirma’s professionally advanced and detailed Con29M-compliant coal reports.
“The new TerraSearch® Coal and TerraSearch® Coal Extra Reports offer expert opinion and more protection, in addition to an efficient turnaround time of up to 2 working days.”
“With an increase in fracking and mineral extraction, it is extremely important that conveyancing solicitors consider a range of issues that may occur when dealing with property transactions.
Please join Searches UK and Terrafirma for our professionally accredited CPD webinar taking place on Tuesday 17th January at 11am – 12pm. This detailed session covers the history of mining and opens your eyes to what lies beneath, highlighting the current risks to land and property in the UK.
For more information and to register for this webinar please visit: http://www.searchesuk.co.uk/added-value-benefits/cpd-webinars-and-seminars
The TerraSearch® suite of Con29M-compliant coal reports is now available at Searches UK. Please contact Searches UK for pricing and more information about these products.
For more information about any of the products and services from Searches UK visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+. Alternatively call them directly on 0800 043 1815 or email them at info@searchesuk.co.uk to speak to one of their dedicated team today.
This article was submitted to be published by Searches UK as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
