Map Check - House Purchase

Old Jim

Registered User
Messages
92
During the signing of contracts, my solicitor showed me a copy of a map showing my proposed house and asked me check that it was right. The trouble was that the map was years old and had not even the local roads on it never mind the estate where the house is. Only a square in the middle of a field! When I couldn't confirm this square represented my house, she asked me to get a engineer/architect to check for me.
My questions:
1- Is this not the solicitors job to check this?
2- Should we request a updated map from the vendor?
3- Should I contact the council for a map of the estate, would this help?
4- Any advice!
 
AFAIK you will need an engineer/architect to certify the location of the property and boundaries. You will also need to contact OS Ireland to check and see if there is an updated map, then contact the builder and get a copy of their site layout plans & provide the map & plans to the engineer/architect.
HTH
 
Thanks for this.
Is it my responsibility to do all this? Have others had to do this for their second-hand house purchase?
Are the OS maps the same as the ones you can buy in the shops or do I need to contact them directly?
Will the council have copies of the site layout plans as the estate is complete and I don't know who the builder was?
 
Ah ok, now i get ya.
Well technically you need to be satisfied the the title deeds on which your property is marked out do match what you have agreed to purchase. OS maps you can purchase from OSI or one of their agents and would be far more detailed than those available in the shops. If the estate is older, perhaps if the OS maps have been updated since the title maps were drawn up, then you will have no need to go to the council or builder as they should reflect your boundaries. If this is the case, then ask an architect/engineer to certify that they are satisfied that the land on the original title map matches the property you are to purchase.
HTH
 
Thanks again.
Is there a specific type of map that I should get from OSI? They seem to have different maps to suit different requirements from leisure to legal planning.
Also, what type of professional would perform the check of both maps? Architect or engineer, If engineer, what specific type and any recommendations for one in Galway?
Thanks again, you're help is much appreciated.