What is a Fuller's Earth search and why do I need it?

These searches will provide you with information about Fuller’s Earth deposits within the vicinity of your property and any associated hazards.

Fuller’s Earth has been mined in the United Kingdom since Roman Times. Hills, cliffs and slopes that contain Fuller's Earth can be unstable when saturated by heavy rain. 

If you are planning to buy a property in any of the areas where this industry has been present (see below), you should purchase a search that includes information on the mines and their locations. 
 
Fuller's Earth is the common name for calcium montmorillonite clay. It’s a material that has the capability to decolorize oil or other liquids without the use of harsh chemical treatment. It's used to absorb oil, grease, and animal waste (cat litter) and as a carrier for pesticides and fertilizers. 

Its name originated in the textile industry, when the workers (fullers) cleaned raw wool by kneading it in a mixture of water and fine earth that adsorbed oil, dirt, and other contaminants from the fibers. 
 
Mining areas in the UK include the Lower Greensand Group and the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire and, until 1979, there was a Fuller's Earth mine operating to the south of Bath, Somerset. Other sites south of Bath included Frome, Lonsdale, Englishcombe, Tucking Mill, and Duncorn Hill. Elsewhere, sources include a mine near Redhill, Surrey (worked until 2000), and Woburn, Bedfordshire, where production ceased in 2004. 

Until the 1890s, Fuller’s Earth was extracted by sinking an ‘earth-well’ up to 60-70 ft deep into the ground. It was then extracted by working outwards from the bottom of the shaft, to form a well in the shape of a bell. 

As with many other types of mining (see previous articles), once disused, this form of extraction provides many hidden dangers. 

Increased dramatic weather conditions have led to more instances of voids opening up near homes. Slips and sink holes can render a property inaccessible, unstable and, in severe cases, worthless. So, it is vital that you order a search that contains some type of ground stability assessment wherever you are buying in the UK and especially if your chosen property is within an area known to have been mined. 

Fullers Earth Search
Fullers Earth Search

Are they mandatory?

Yes, unless you are buying without a mortgage. When you are buying with a mortgage, the conveyancing solicitor has to follow a set of standard instructions defined in The UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook.  
The handbook comes in two parts, the first part applies to all UK Finance members –members of the organisation represent 97% of lending in the UK. 
 
Part 2 contains a section for each member, detailing their requirements. This is where your conveyancer will find the list of which searches are required by your lender. In most cases the minimum required will be: 

  1. Land registry searches (both Register and Title Plan) 
  2. Local search - either Regulated or Council (both LLC1 and CON29) 
  3. Water and Drainage - Regulated or CON29DW 
  4. Environmental (likely to contain an element of ground stability assessment) 

Further reports required include (but aren’t limited to): 

See other articles for more information. 

When are they ordered? 

Searches should be ordered as soon as you appoint your conveyancing solicitor: as a minimum this includes Land Registry and Local Searches, Water and Drainage Searches, an Environmental Search, a Flood Risk Report and any specifically required searches based on geography, such as Radon Gas, Mining or China Clay searches.  
 
One of the first things your conveyancer will do is ask you for money ‘on account’ to pay for these searches.  

 What do they tell you? 

The contents of the search will depend upon the provider it is purchased from and the company that produces it. But they will all show a number of things in common: 
 

  • Whether the property is situated in an area where extraction has taken place. 
  • The presence of any mine workings or shafts under, within or adjacent to the boundaries of  the property 
  • The nearest recorded workings with an approximate distance to the property. 
  • The likelihood the property will be affected by subsidence caused by historic Fuller’s Earth mining 
  • Any plans to explore for, or exploit Fuller’s Earth in the locality. 

 The report will be compiled by interpreting historic plans, documents, geological maps, early Ordnance survey maps and aerial photography. Depending on which company provides the report, you may also receive an interpretation as well as recorded, factual workings. 

Are there different types?

Yes. Ground stability, subsidence, mining and environmental reports may well all include a Fuller’s Earth search, depending on the provider. Check with your legal professional.  
 

What do they cost? 

As above, this also depends on the provider that your conveyancing professional uses and which search they order from that supplier, see previous articles on environmental and mining searches for the range of possible prices.  
 Depending on the level of risk identified, your conveyancing professional may advise you to pay for a further investigation in the form of another, more specific report. The cost is likely range from £27 plus VAT upwards.  

How long do they last? 

When acting on a conveyance, your solicitor must follow The UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook, it says that searches must be no more than 6 months old on completion. A lot can change in a short space of time with property: heavy rainfall (the main cause of ground instability), for example, can happen at any time.  But, in any case, it’s important that the information you have about your new property is as up to date as possible. Your conveyancer will let you know if the search is coming close to expiry. 

If you are thinking of buying or selling your home, you may find some of these services useful: