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16
Nov 2020
District's homebuyers and agents furious over council search delays
Homebuyers and agents are furious with Harrogate Borough Council over its land search delays.
The council has admitted it is currently struggling with the volume of requests but insisted the wait is around 30 working days.
Since publishing a story about the delays we have been contacted by people who dispute the council's timescale.
Far away from the estimated 30 working days, some claim they put requests in at the end of summer to be told that it won't be cleared until December.
A financial adviser in Harrogate, who requested anonymity, wanted to move to a bigger house as his family is growing.
He says he put in a search request on September 25, only to be told this week that will likely be the end of December when it is complete:
In an email to the financial adviser, the council said it has just two staff working on searches after two "experienced members of the team" left.
An increase in demand, a backlog of searches from the first lockdown and struggles with staff numbers have all put strain on the process.
Hours after that email the communications department at the council said it currently has eight staff processing searches.
Read more:
- Harrogate council urges homebuyers to be patient about search delays
- Harrogate homebuyers frustrated by land search delays
The council also disputed the claim that searches submitted in September will not be complete by December:
James Wort, a director at Strutt and Parker, told the Stray Ferret that his clients have experienced delays up to 90 days:
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