Buying property

[smithbird]

When a solicitor carries out a search for a buyer what does he search for and how far back does he go.

[buildersmate]

Yes, sounds impressive, doesn't it - you are employing your solicitor to get out there and uncover the darkest secrets that might foul up your prize purchase. The truth is a lot simpler - the solicitor merely writes to the local council and says "Got anything to say about No. 32 Acacia Gardens". It's the council that maintain these records and for a fixed fee (which will appear as a dispursement on your final bill) the council writes back regarding recent planning consents, compulsory purchase orders, future plans to drive a bypass through the neighbour's garden - that sort of thing.
The record is maintained as 'up to date' - so there is no sense of going back a distance in time. If there is something of interest recorded, it will appear on the record.

[Eve]

Depends on which searches are being done.

Usually it's a Local Search (as described by buildersmate above) and Drainage & Water maybe Coal, Environment, Chancel Repair Liability or Commons.

There are all kinds of other searches depending on the area from special mining searches in parts of Cheshire and Cornwall to highways, utilities, London Underground, all sorts of things.

There are also Land Registry searches, these are different in registered (OS1 priority search and K17 bankruptcy) and unregistered land (Land Charges).

There are also more specific searches depending on the property and area like manorial rights.

Is it a particular search or issue you are enquiring about for more details?