By Legal Futures Associate Landmark Information Group [1]
When purchasing a residential property, especially a high-value or complex one, environmental risks are often overlooked until it’s too late. Industry analysis shows that skipping thorough environmental due diligence can lead to costly surprises, legal headaches, and even failed transactions.
Here’s why our redesigned Argyll SiteSolutions Residence report could be your smartest investment in peace of mind.
When your clients dream home comes with a hidden legacy
Picture your client purchasing their ideal home, only to later uncover that the land beneath it was once used for industrial purposes, such as a gas works or depot. While not every case makes headlines, this kind of situation is not uncommon. There are numerous examples where homeowners have discovered soil contamination linked to historic land use, triggering a long and complex process to determine who is responsible for the clean-up costs.
One particularly striking case is in Willenhall, where residents endured a decade-long ordeal after discovering their homes were built on a former gas works site that closed in 1957. The properties were developed by McClean and E Fletcher Builders (now dissolved), and in 2007, Walsall Council began investigating the site as part of its contaminated land strategy. They discovered areas contaminated with benzo(a)pyrene, a known carcinogen, alongside heavy metals, tars, and a gasworks by-product called Blue Billy. The contamination posed a significant possibility of harm, and nearly 90 homes near Kemble Close, Oakridge Drive, and Brookthorpe Drive were declared affected.
In 2015, Walsall Council served a remediation notice on Jim 2 Limited, claiming the company was liable for the contamination. The firm appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, leading to a public inquiry. After years of legal wrangling, the local authority was left with a potential £2.5 million remediation bill, and residents were left in limbo, uncertain when or how the remediation would be completed.
Had a SiteSolutions Residence report been commissioned during the purchase process, our environmental consultants would have flagged the site’s industrial history and potential contamination risks through detailed historic land use analysis. This would have empowered buyers to renegotiate, seek further investigation, or walk away before committing.
Flood: the growing threat
Flooding is still too often seen as a concern limited to riverside properties. Today, more than 4.6 million homes across the UK are at risk from surface water flooding, a number that continues to rise.
When selecting an environmental search for a residential property, the SiteSolutions Residence report stands out as the most comprehensive choice. Our consultant-led flood risk assessments take into account the entire site, delivering a more accurate and practical understanding of flood exposure, particularly valuable for larger or more complex properties.
This boundary-based approach helps buyers and conveyancers:
- Identify flood risk across the full extent of the property, including gardens, driveways, and outbuildings.
- Provides advice on how flood risk may affect planned renovations, extensions, or future development.
- Flag potential insurance challenges or premium increases that could impact affordability or mortgage approval.
Understanding future risks
With the release of the Law Society’s Guidance on Climate Change in 2023, followed by the “Climate Change and Property” practice note for solicitors published in May 2025, environmental due diligence is now expected to go beyond present-day risks. As warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers become more common, these shifting weather patterns, along with rising sea levels, are increasing the likelihood of hazards such as flooding, subsidence, coastal erosion, and heat stress.
To help buyers understand how these future scenarios could affect the usability, value, or adaptation needs of a property, our redesigned SiteSolutions Residence report offers the option to include or exclude climate change analysis, at no extra cost. This flexibility allows conveyancers and their clients to tailor the level of insight to suit the needs of each transaction.
This enhanced due diligence helps to:
- Highlight long-term environmental risks that may affect how a property is used or maintained over time.
- Identify areas where adaptation measures are required, such as flood defences or insulation upgrades may be necessary, helping clients plan for future costs.
- Demonstrate a proactive approach to risk management, aligning your advice with best practice and reinforcing your commitment to thorough client care.
By integrating climate change analysis, the SiteSolutions Residence report supports both home buyers and solicitors in navigating an evolving risk landscape, ensuring that your transaction is underpinned by robust, forward-looking due diligence.
Legal liabilities: protecting buyers and solicitors
Lack of environmental due diligence doesn’t just hurt buyers, it can also lead to legal claims against solicitors. Missed risks like contamination or flood zones can result in unexpected remediation costs, mortgage refusals, or even lawsuits. The Law Society recommends comprehensive environmental searches for all property transactions, especially for high-value or older homes. The SiteSolutions Residence report is manually written and reviewed by accredited consultants, providing clear, actionable insights that protect both buyers and legal professionals.
What makes the SiteSolutions Residence report different?
- Manual, consultant-led analysis: every report is written and reviewed by an IEMA-accredited environmental consultant, not just a computer algorithm. This enables enhanced due diligence of environmental risks.
- Bespoke risk assessments: the report evaluates potential contamination risks both on-site and in the surrounding area, helping you understand how historic or nearby contaminative land uses could create legal liabilities or impact future development plans. Our flood risk assessments also highlight any concerns that may affect the current use of the property or any proposed changes, ensuring you and your clients are fully informed before proceeding.
- Boundary-based reporting: the report assesses the actual site boundary, not just a central point, crucial for large or irregular properties.
- Actionable recommendations: bespoke guidance on next steps, so you’re never left guessing.
Don’t let your clients dream home become a nightmare
Whether you’re a buyer, solicitor, or property professional, the Argyll SiteSolutions Residence report is your safeguard against hidden environmental risks. It’s not just about ticking a box, it’s about making informed decisions, protecting your investment, and ensuring peace of mind.
Explore the future of environmental due diligence
Our redesigned Argyll SiteSolutions reports set a new standard for environmental searches. With an intuitive design, industry-leading data interpretation, and upgrades that address today’s most pressing risks, these reports empower you to deliver exceptional service to your clients.
Discover the full portfolio here: https://hubs.ly/Q03NgBtk0 [2]