Property Search Changes Are Afoot

Up until now, you’re probably used to a certain format when it comes to how search results are given to you as you look for properties on websites and property portals. You may have noticed recently how those search results are yielding different property details than usual.

Coming into force at the end of April this year is a new rule that states all sales and lettings listings have to include new details and information on them. These include:

• Which Council Tax band the property falls under or the rate – both for sales and lettings
• The price and details of the tenure, for example freehold or leasehold – for sales only

These changes are just the start of the way properties are listed. There be more to come, including to make it compulsory to include details of utilities available within a property. Plus non standard features such as restrictive covenants and flood risk. This will make it much more transparent for prospective buyers, so they can gather as much information as possible before deciding on moving forward with any choices to make an offer. After all, buying and selling property is a huge step to take.  These details are considered very important when looking at prospective bills and expenses.

Why are these property search changes needed?

The property search changes are being implemented following a recent survey by Trading Standards. Who contacted people who had moved in the last three years or are looking to move in the next three years.

These are some of the key points that have bought these changes into place

• 90 per cent  of respondents who use property portals would prefer to find detailed or key information about a property when they’re searching for a property on a portal
• 87 per cent of respondents agreed that portals should include all key information about a home in their property listing
• 54 per cent said that they would be less likely to buy or rent a property where information was missing on the property listing
• 41 per cent assumed that missing information means something must be wrong with the property.

Harrisons warmly welcomes changes to anything that improves standards within the housing industry. Be assured we will always keep you up to date on the changes within our industry that affect you, the valued customer.

If you would like to know more about how these changes may effect your sale, please call our team on 01795 474848

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