OneSearch Pledge is a low-fee seller search warranty that will reimburse your client’s search costs up to £300 if the purchase of their residential property falls through. Many home buyers are simply unaware that the chance of their purchase falling through is high, and correspondingly, so is the risk of losing their search fees.
In this blog, we will look at how providing OneSearch Pledge can enhance your reputation as a conveyancer and provide considerable peace of mind to your clients that their search costs will not be lost if their transaction does not proceed.
What is the true cost of residential property fall-throughs to the property sector?
Nearly one in three residential property transactions fell through in 2024 (an estimated 296,204 transactions), with each one estimated to cost the home buyer an average of £3,456; that equates to losses of over £1bn. The wider economic losses due to fall through are estimated at £8.6 billion. The UK’s high property fall-through rate is not just a statistic; it represents a significant risk to your clients’ finances and your firm’s reputation and efficiency.
Consider that for each residential property fall-through:
- Estate Agents lose an average of £4,123 in costs
- Home buyers lose, on average, around £3,500 in lost fees and charges for conveyancing, surveys, and searches.
While the estimates of costs vary, it is clear that the hundreds of thousands of property fall-throughs have an enormous impact on the wider economy, property transaction stakeholders, and potential buyers.
Why should home buyers choose OneSearch Pledge?
1. Small fee, big benefits
For a fee of approximately £15 per transaction, your clients can be reassured that should their matter fall through, they will receive up to £300 to cover their search costs. Given that the average cost of searches is around £400, this will return most of their search-related costs.
2. Position for your firm as proactive and caring
Offering a solution like OneSearch Pledge can really create a point of difference for your conveyancing practice, i.e., that you care. Many purchasers want to know that if their matter falls through for reasons outside of their control, they will not be financially out of pocket as a result. Not only does providing the assurance of Pledge show that you are committed to client care, but there will be a corresponding reduction in complaints and disputes arising from aborted transaction costs. Depending on your business model, you may choose to pass on the fee for Pledge or absorb this within your own costs in the knowledge that it may encourage more clients to choose your lower-risk offering.
3. A refreshingly simple solution
As far as the client is concerned, they simply need to tick the option to be covered by Pledge. There is no application form, detailed paperwork, or investment of their time. In the event that they need to claim against their Pledge warranty, all they need to do is inform their conveyancer, who will advise Onesearch. If the claim is approved, the amount is paid to the client within 15 working days.
One small fee, no paperwork, and an easy claim process
The exceptionally high level of fall-throughs in 2024/25 means that the risk of losing search fees is significant. While some customers will feel that they can absorb the cost of lost search fees if their matter falls through, many will not because they cannot afford to lose hundreds of pounds due to factors outside their control. By providing the peace of mind that Pledge provides, your conveyancing firm can demonstrate its commitment to customer care and respect for the precious financial resources of clients. We have made Pledge as simple as possible for all stakeholders – one small fee, no paperwork, and an easy claim process.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help my client understand the value of Pledge?
Many home buyers may take the view that the risk of their purchase falling through is negligible. It is important to explain that the rate of aborted transactions is much higher than people think (i.e. nearly one-third in 2024). Furthermore, there is no guarantee that any subsequent purchase transactions will go through the first time. As a result, the fees for aborted transactions may start to add up. The fee is extremely small in the grand scheme of the purchase, but having a pledge means that they won’t waste money that can be put towards searching for a future purchase.
Will Pledge reimburse the seller if the seller pulls out?
Any OneSearch fees will be reimbursed to the buyer if the seller pulls out of the transaction. Specifically, we will cover the search fees if the seller is not in a legal position to sell the property or they accept a higher offer from another buyer and the home buyer is not willing to increase their offer in response.
Will Pledge reimburse the buyer if the buyer pulls out?
Any OneSearch fees will be reimbursed to the buyer if they need to pull out of their purchase for a wide range of reasons, including:
- If the searches reveal an issue that seriously affects the value of the property
- Due to unforeseen circumstances such as serious illness or redundancy, and
- The property being purchased is damaged and the cost of repairs is more than 5% of the value of the property.
For a full list of the criteria for reimbursement and situations not covered, please click here.
Is Pledge an insurance product?
No, Pledge is a warranty add-on offered when purchasing a bundle of searches OneSearch Direct only.
Covering Your Clients’ Search Costs With OneSearch Pledge
OneSearch Pledge
OneSearch is an expert partner to conveyancing professionals, offering innovative and practical solutions to navigate the complexities and risks of the UK property market. For more information on OneSearch Pledge and what it can do for your firm and clients, please complete the contact form at the bottom of the
Every conveyancer knows Local Authority Searches are essential, but they aren’t all created equal.
Variations in council turnaround times, report formats, and pricing can introduce unwelcome friction into your workflow. What if you could rely on a consistent, clear, fixed-price report backed by substantial PI cover, regardless of the property’s location? It’s time to look closely at the advantages Regulated Local Authority Searches offer and how they directly address these common challenges.
Meeting the needs for consistency, clarity and reliability is the core purpose of OneSearch Prime, our flagship Regulated Local Authority Search. As the product underpinning our longstanding success, OneSearch Prime is specifically designed to overcome the inconsistencies you face.
It provides comprehensive insights presented in a clear, uniform format at a fixed price no matter the Local Authority, bringing predictability to your disbursements. Furthermore, it’s backed by £10 Million PI cover for your peace of mind and is accepted by the vast majority of UK lenders.
Myth-Busting: The True Reliability of Regulated Searches
Let’s address a persistent myth head-on: the idea that Regulated (Personal) local searches are somehow less reliable or comprehensive than their official council counterparts is an outdated view, which fails to recognise the rigorous standards of modern, data-centric providers.
High-quality regulated searches, like OneSearch Prime, access and interpret the same core Local Authority data sources. The key difference lies in the meticulous quality control processes, enhanced data presentation for clarity, and the backing of significant professional indemnity insurance – like our £10m PI cover. Our confidence in the dependability of OneSearch Prime is built on over 30 years of specialist data handling experience, ensuring you receive accurate reports that meet lender requirements.
7 Reasons Why
Here are seven reasons to choose OneSearch Prime Regulated Local Authority Searches:
- Budget Certainty & Transparency: Enjoy a fixed price for OneSearch Prime reports nationwide. This simplifies your client quotes and eliminates cost surprises, regardless of the local authority involved.
- Unmatched Peace of Mind: Work confidently knowing every OneSearch Prime report is backed by a robust £10 million Professional Indemnity insurance policy.
- Faster Report Analysis: Save valuable time with our clear, consistent, easy-to-read layout, standardised across all local authorities and featuring a helpful upfront summary page.
- Efficient & Accurate Turnarounds: We strive for prompt report delivery to keep your transactions moving forward. Our commitment to accuracy means that while speed is important, we always perform essential checks when needed, ensuring you receive dependable and trustworthy results.
- Deep Data Expertise: Leverage over 30+ years of specialist experience in UK property data collection and interpretation for accurate, comprehensive search results you can trust.
- Streamlined Ordering Process: Improve your workflow efficiency by ordering OneSearch Prime and other essential searches through a single, user-friendly, fully supported online platform.
- Direct Access to Support: Get quick answers when you need them. Our highly trained, UK-based customer service team is available directly (8:30AM to 5:00 PM) without frustrating automated systems or long hold times.
Stop navigating the friction of variable search costs, inconsistent reports, and reliability concerns that can slow down your conveyancing process. OneSearch Prime provides a clear path forward: a regulated Local Authority Search meticulously designed for today’s demands. It delivers nationwide fixed pricing for budget certainty, dependable accuracy built on 30+ years of data expertise, user-friendly reports for faster analysis, robust £10m PI insurance for peace of mind, and dedicated UK-based support when you need it. It’s the smarter choice for efficient, confident conveyancing.
Take the next step towards smarter searches. Register with OneSearch to start ordering today.
Your indispensable partner in ensuring smooth and successful property transactions
OneSearch Prime
As an essential component of every property deal, OneSearch Prime provides comprehensive insights into a property’s potential issues, allowing you to make informed decisions and avoid costly delays. Whether you’re handling residential or commercial transactions, OneSearch Prime is your go-to resource for accurate and reliable information.
For product cards, sample reports, or to include OneSearch Prime in your next order, click below.
We are delighted with the response to OneSearch AML since we unveiled the product last summer; we hope you’ve had the opportunity to explore yourselves into the solutions it can provide your firm when it comes to managing risk and protecting your firm.
We understand the world of Anti Money Laundering can seem overwhelming at times: new regulations, confusing jargon and acronyms… and that’s not forgetting keeping on top of ever-evolving fraud strategies. On top of all that, you may often find yourself explaining this to your clients as well.
To help you conquer compliance, and master your firms AML checks in 2025, we’re offering a downloadable guide packed with practical advice and best practices for conveyancers.
In our guide, you’ll learn about:
- Understanding your KYC/AML Obligations in 2025
- A comparison of Manual vs Digital AML Checks
- A detailed explanation about the Safe Harbour Standard
- A guide to the most common AML phrases and what they actually mean
And also:
- A full breakdown on the features and benefits of OneSearch AML, the most comprehensive anti-money laundering solution on the market.
Fill in the form below to download your complimentary 2025 AML guide:
The state of play
The UK is once again counting down to a looming Stamp Duty deadline, evoking memories of a post-lockdown 2022 Britain.
The market has been chock-a-block with activity from first time buyers for the past few months. Recent home mover activity figures are as high as 64% for the end of 2024 and again at the start of 2025, with buyers having one eye on cheaper mortgage deals, and another on the prospect of higher buying costs on the horizon.
However, the time it takes to complete isn’t improving; average turnaround times continue to creep up and up, meaning those taking their first daunting step onto the housing ladder may fall short of the deadline, especially if part of a larger chain of purchases.
This of course means talk of the dreaded F-word: Fall-throughs. Recent research suggests numbers are rising again in the UK, with an estimated 84,079 fall-throughs during the third quarter of 2024 – the highest quarterly total seen since they peaked in Q3 2022.
The solution
Within a few weeks, SDLT thresholds will revert to pre-relief levels, and many thousands will be faced with the reality of having to amend budgets, or worse, restart from square one, with one of the potential causes being the turnaround time for searches.
OneSearch Express offers the perfect solution, combining the speed of a no-search indemnity policy – created in partnership with Lloyd & White Community Broking Ltd – with the crucial insights of a comprehensive property data report, allowing conveyancers to transact typically within just 24 hours.
And this year OneSearch Express celebrates its tenth birthday, with around 25,000 orders having been placed since 2015.
Liz Jarvis, Managing Director at OneSearch, said: “We know all too well how frustrating it is when Local Authority searches drag on. This creates a huge backlog, especially when caseloads are already bursting at the seams, and it puts immense stress on clients.
“That’s why we designed OneSearch Express – to take some of that pressure off. It gets things moving quickly and efficiently, so homebuyers can settle into their new place sooner, and solicitors can get on with their next case.
“To be here ten years later, talking about how it is still a vital asset for conveyancers, is a fantastic achievement”
What is OneSearch Express?
OneSearch Express provides cover in place of the following searches, which can often cause hold-ups in the conveyancing process:
- A full Chancel Repair Liability search
- A Search of the Local Land Charges Register form LLC1
- A Search of CON29R and/or CON29O records
- A Search of Water and Drainage records on CON29DW
- A search of the Coal Authority’s records on form CON29M
- An environmental risk assessment (excludes Commercial Express)
This allows conveyancers to proceed quickly, even when time is of the essence.
John Margett, Client Relationship Manager at OneSearch, added: “OneSearch Express has been so well received over the past ten years, turning many potential fall-throughs into completions from our clients.
“The key that makes Express unique is our data, something that distinguishes us from other search companies. OneSearch are the only company to possess an extensive database of real-time Local Enquiries information, which we have been collecting over the course of 30-plus years.
“Every single piece of data is meticulously triple checked, and that’s exactly the same process for Express”
OneSearch Express is available for a selection of different sale types, including existing residential, commercial, new build, and more.
John continued: “We offer Express in instances where it makes the most sense, such as remortgages, where in many instances very little has changed since the first Local Search was carried out. House sales for new builds can be considered as well, as the typical exchange is required within 28 days.”
The speed of No-Search Insurance, the power of property data
OneSearch Express
For solicitors navigating complex caseloads and demanding clients, delays can be incredibly costly – not just in terms of time, but also in terms of stress and client satisfaction. With a proven track record and a commitment to innovation, OneSearch Express offers a solution designed to alleviate pressure, reduce turnaround times, and ultimately, make the entire process smoother for everyone involved.
For product cards, sample reports, or to include OneSearch Express in your next order, click below.