The Environment Agency is inviting Midlands property professionals (including estate agents, surveyors, and legal professionals specialising in conveyancing) to a free seminar to find out more about its Property Search service and enhanced flood mapping data. Property Search helps property professionals to provide the best service for their clients, based on credible, accurate and trusted information, with the added reassurance of the Environment Agency’s name.

For buyers investing in residential or commercial property, a knowledge of any potential environmental hazards that may be lurking unseen underneath is crucial. If the proposed requirement for sellers to provide Home Information Packs comes into force, knowing as much as possible about the property will be vital.

Property Search, part of the Environment Agency, produces two reports:

The Complete Property Search Report, which focuses on residential properties

The Commercial Property Search Report, which focuses on commercial properties and land.

The seminars also include an opportunity to learn more about our flood -risk mapping service. Members of the flood-risk management team will be on hand to explain how to interpret the data, and highlight its key strengths. The team will also describe the ongoing programme of improvements planned for this service.

Seminars will take place as follows:

2 February 2006 from 09.45am to 12.00 noon, at the Environment Agency’s office at Riversmeet House, Tewkesbury for property professionals from Coventry, South Warwickshire, South Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire (closing date for applications 20 January 2006)

13 February 2006 from 09.45am to 12.00 noon, at the Environment Agency’s office at Trentside in Nottingham for property professionals from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire (closing date for applications 1 February 2006)

14 February 2006 from 09.45am to 12.00 noon, at the Environment Agency’s office at Sentinel House, Fradley Park, Lichfield, for property professionals from Staffordshire, North Warwickshire, Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and Walsall (closing date for applications 1 February 2006)

In the meantime, more information about the service can be found on our website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/propertysearch

More information:

Buying a house is, for most people, their largest single purchase. Knowing as much as possible about the property and the surrounding area is vital.

For commercial purchasers, there’s always a risk that a site could end up needing millions of pounds worth of remedial work, and serious delays in construction.

The Environment Agency have produced The Complete Property Search Report and the Commercial Property Search Report, working with Groundsure Ltd, a leading environmental consultancy, using the data, skills and expertise of each organisation.

These reports enable users to obtain answers to key questions relating to flood risk, subsidence, Radon, coal mining and contaminated land and provides the results in a simple and easy to use format. The report comprises a user-friendly summary report, backed up by two in-depth assessments from the Environment Agency and Groundsure.

The report will advise prospective homebuyers whether their area is at risk and whether the risk is considered to be low, moderate or significant. The Flood Map uses the latest information to give the most comprehensive picture of flood risk in England and Wales available to the public, and will be updated quarterly.