The HouseDossier Blog
Guides to buying property in the UK, written from the data: Land Registry sold prices, flood maps, EPC records, crime statistics and more.
What to Check Before Buying a House in the UK: 12 Checks to Run Before You Offer
Twelve checks every UK buyer should run before making an offer - flood risk, subsidence, crime, sold prices, EPC and more - with step-by-step instructions for the free official tools.
House Buying Checklist UK: All 8 Stages, Costs and Timings for 2026
Every stage of buying a UK home in 2026 — realistic timings, true costs at the £268,000 average price, and the free data checks that stop sales falling through.
What Is a Ceiling Price on a House? (And How to Find Yours in 10 Minutes)
The ceiling price is the most any home on a street will sell for, however much you spend on it. Here's how to calculate yours from free Land Registry data — and what it means whether you're renovating or making an offer.
How to Find Out How Much a House Sold For in the UK: Every Free Method, Step by Step
Every registered sale in England and Wales is public record — and checking it is free. Here's exactly how to look up any sold price, why it can take six months to appear, and how to read the number like a valuer.
Questions to Ask When Viewing a House: The Complete UK Checklist
Every question to ask at a house viewing, organised by who can actually answer it: the estate agent, the vendor, or a free government dataset you can check before you even book.
Do I Need a Survey When Buying a House? The UK Guide for 2026
A survey isn't legally required in England, Wales or NI — but skipping one is how buyers end up with £5,750 repair bills. Which RICS level you need, what it costs in 2026, and the free checks to run first.
Leasehold vs Freehold: Differences, Real Costs and the 2026 Rule Changes
Freehold means you own the property and the land outright; leasehold means you own it for a fixed term while someone else owns the building. Here's what each really costs, which reforms are actually in force in 2026, and how to check any property's tenure free in three minutes.
How to Check the Flood Risk of a Property in the UK (Step by Step)
Around 6.3 million properties in England sit in areas at risk of flooding, and most of that risk never shows on a portal listing. Here's how to check any property step by step using free official tools — and what the result means for your insurance, mortgage and offer.
EPC Ratings Explained: What the A–G Bands Mean, What They Cost and the New 2030 Rules
EPC ratings grade a home's energy efficiency from A to G — and the rules around them changed dramatically in January 2026. Here's what each band means, how the score is actually calculated, and how to check any property's certificate free.
Conveyancing Searches Explained: Every Search, 2026 Costs and Timescales
What every conveyancing search actually reveals, what each one costs in 2026, how long they really take — and the free official datasets that let you preview most of them before you spend a penny on legal fees.
Subsidence When Buying a House: Signs, Checks and When to Walk Away
Historic, documented subsidence is usually buyable at a discount; active movement is a different decision entirely. How to read the cracks, screen the ground under any postcode, and handle the survey, mortgage and insurance questions that follow.
How Long Does It Take to Buy a House in the UK? The Realistic 2026 Timeline
From starting your search to getting keys, buying a UK house typically takes 4–6 months — 12–16 weeks of that is offer to completion. Here's the stage-by-stage 2026 timeline, what stretches each stage, and the pre-offer checks that genuinely cut weeks off.
Stop reading about checks. Run them.
Every check in these guides - sold prices, flood risk, EPC, crime, subsidence, planning - in one report for any UK address. Free preview, no signup.
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