Hidden Hazards Threaten Summer Home Buys in Kent

While buyers in Kent dream of the perfect postcode or designer kitchen, property experts are warning the biggest risks to a successful purchase this summer may be buried beneath the surface.

X-Press Legal Services in Kent is urging house hunters to look beyond kerb appeal and invest in essential legal checks. Property searches, carried out during conveyancing, can uncover serious local risks like flood zones, mining areas, or forgotten footpaths that can derail a sale or lead to unexpected costs.

To help local buyers avoid nasty surprises, X-Press Legal Services has revealed the top five property search risks to watch out for this summer in Kent:

1. Public Footpaths Across Private Land Rural charm can come with a catch: legally protected footpaths running through private gardens. Buyers may be shocked to discover they don’t have exclusive control of their land. As Lee warns, “Public rights of way aren’t easy to change and ignoring them could mean criminal liability.” Obstructing these routes is an offence and owners must keep them accessible and clear.

2. Unadopted or Private Roads Not all roads are council-maintained. Some buyers inherit shared responsibility for road upkeep, often with no formal agreement in place. New builds can also face years of delay before adoption, depending on construction quality and infrastructure issues. “It’s a long-term burden buyers rarely plan for,” adds Lee.

3. Protected Trees Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) legally protect certain trees from removal or pruning, even if they block development or pose issues for new owners. These restrictions can delay plans and lead to fines if breached. “TPOs are legal obligations with serious consequences,” says Lee.

4. Flood Risk Flags Flood zones aren’t always obvious and are becoming increasingly common as climate change alters weather patterns and increases the likelihood of extreme rainfall and surface water flooding. Environmental searches may reveal unseen flood risks even if there is no watercourse nearby and all can affect insurance, mortgages and property value. X-Press Legal Services recommends detailed flood assessments and early contact with insurers to avoid costly surprises.

5. Chancel Repair Liability An old but legally valid obligation, chancel repair liability can still affect some homes and requires property owners to contribute to church repair costs. In headline-making legal case Aston Cantlow Parochial Church Council v Wallbank, homeowners were pursued for nearly £187,000 in chancel repairs, plus £250,000 in legal costs. All because their property was historically tied to a parish with repair rights. “Even rare risks are worth checking. Searches exist to protect buyers from exactly these kinds of shocks” concludes Lee.

For expert advice on search surprises in your area, X-Press Legal Services recommends seeking the support of a local conveyancing firm which will have a thorough understanding of issues pertaining to your region.

X-Press Legal Services is the leading independent provider of conveyancing data in England and Wales. With 27 locally owned offices, it is trusted by over 500 legal practices and also supports ongoing professional development for conveyancers through regular CPD events, webinars and publications delivering expert guidance, reliable data and innovative technology at every stage.

To find out more about X-Press Legal Services Kent and the expert property search reports they provide to the local conveyancing sector, please call 0330 159 5369 or visit https://xpresslegal.co.uk/

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