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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a mining report?
  2. Why do I need a mining report?
  3. What is a ground stability report?
  4. What is an Enviro All-in-One report?
  5. Why do I need an Enviro All-in-One report?
  6. What are the benefits of an Enviro All-in-One report?
  7. How do I know what reports/searches are available for the property I am interested in?
  8. What is the cost of a mining report?
  9. How do I apply for reports/searches?
  10. Why has the report I ordered using the online service not arrived?
  11. What do I do if I have concerns about the information in my report?
  12. How do I become a registered user?
  13. How do I apply for a monthly invoiced account?
  14. Where can I find my account number?
  15. What Internet browser do I need to use to access this site?
  16. How can I upgrade my Internet browser?
  17. What is the difference between the residential and non-residential reports/earches offered?
  18. What is an Interpretive Report?
  19. What is the Brine Compensation District?
  20. What is the Brine Consultation Area?
  21. What is a Prescribed Notice or a Notice of Damage?
  22. What is a Notice of Purchase?
  23. What is a Commutation?
  24. When Do I Need to Supply a Location Plan?
  25. What if I have a query about the information from British Geological Survey on the potential for natural ground movement at my property?
  26. What if I have a query about the information from GroundSure on the Environmental section with regard to my property?

Q1: What is a mining report?

A Coal Authority mining report identifies the environmental and stability risk arising from any past, current and future underground and surface coal mining activity that affects a property. This includes information on mineshafts, subsidence claims, reported hazards and mine gas emissions that may affect the property.

Coal Authority mining reports are fully endorsed by the Law Society of England & Wales, and the Law Society of Scotland, and answer all the enquiries that are necessary to be made in order to fulfil the due diligence requirements of the Law Society’s CON29M 2006 edition search scheme (ScotForm 2006 in Scotland).

Since 23rd October 2006 all Coal Authority mining reports in England and Wales also include information from the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board (CBSCB) identifying if the property has been the subject of a claim for subsidence damage caused by brine extraction.

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Q2: Why do I need a mining report?

Please see our mining overview for information which explains why coal mining and brine subsidence claim search information is required.

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Q3: What is a ground stability report?

A Coal Authority ground stability report provides all the coal mining and brine subsidence claim search information outlined in Q1 above, together with expert interpretation and property specific advice, in simple language, on the potential hazards related to natural subsidence. These hazards occur throughout Great Britain, not just on coalfield area. This report fully satisfies both the Law Society’s due diligence requirements under CON29M 2006 edition (ScotForm 2006 in Scotland) and the Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 (Home Report in Scotland).

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Q4: What is an Enviro All-in-One Report?

This report provides all the CON29M-compliant coal mining and brine subsidence claim search information outlined in Q1 above, together with essential specialist environmental advice from GroundSure on historical land use, flooding, natural subsidence hazards and risk from toxic substances.

The GroundSure section of the report is a fully-interpreted and risk-rated environmental screening report, with a Passed/In Need of Further Assessment certificate. All reports are compiled and interpreted by Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) accredited environmental consultants.

This report satisfies both the Law Society’s due diligence requirements under CON29M 2006 edition (ScotForm 2006 in Scotland) and the Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 (Home Report in Scotland). It also addresses the due diligence issue raised by the Law Society Warning Card on Contaminated land and removes from homebuyers and their professional advisors the burden of interpreting the results of the report.

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Q5: Why do I need an Enviro All-in-One report?

Law Society practitioners have a duty of care to ensure clients are fully aware of subsidence risks relating to property transactions. This Report fully satisfies the Law Society’s due diligence requirements under CON29M 2006 edition (ScotForm 2006 in Scotland). This report also provides property specific information from the CBSCB identifying whether the subject property has been the subject of claims for subsidence damage caused by brine extraction and those potentially still at risk.

The GroundSure element of the report addresses the due diligence issue raised by the Law Society Warning Card on Contaminated land and removes from the property professional the burden of interpreting the results of the report. Implementation of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) now places liability for the cleaning up of contaminated land on the current owner or occupier where a ”past polluter” cannot be traced. This report provides essential specialist environmental advice on historical land use, flooding, subsidence and risk from toxic substances.

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Q6: What are the benefits of an Enviro All-in-One report?

The benefits of the Enviro All-in-One report to homebuyers and their professional representatives are:

  • Quick and easy online access to authoritative, accurate and comprehensive information on mining and environmental issues, including historical land use, flooding (not Scotland), subsidence and risk from toxic substances.
  • A saving of £9.00 on the cost of buying separate CON29M and GroundSure Homebuyers residential reports (ScotForm and GroundSure Home Environmental residential reports in Scotland).
  • Includes all the due diligence elements and benefits of the CON29M 2006/Scot Form 2006 edition search.
  • Also addresses the due diligence issue raised by the Law Society Warning Card on Contaminated land and removes from the property professional the burden of interpreting the results of the report.
  • Property specific information
  • The GroundSure element of the Combined Report is compiled and interpreted by IEMA accredited environmental consultants.
  • A fully interpreted and risk rated environmental screening report with a “Passed” or “In need of Further Assessment” certificate is included within the price.
  • Fully HIP and Home Report compliant.
  • Relevant to the property buying public throughout Scotland, England and Wales, both on and off the coalfield areas.
  • The majority of searches returned within 48 hours.

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Q7: How do I know what reports/searches are available for the property I am interested in?

Please access the Coal Authority’s Online Property Search Serviceoffsite link to check what searches are recommended for the property you are interested in.

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Q8: What is the cost of a mining report?

Report Types and Prices (effective from 01.04.10)
Report Description Cost (£) VAT (£) Total (£)

27.00 4.73 31.73
Residential Property Mining Report (Coal Mining and Brine Subsidence)
[ordered by post/telephone]		 33.87 5.93 39.80

64.00 11.20 75.20
Non-Residential Property Mining Report (Coal Mining and Brine Subsidence)
[ordered online or by post/telephone] - each additional 25 hectares		 64.00 11.20 75.20
No Search Required Certificate
[ordered online only]		 13.00 2.28 15.28
Residential Property Ground Stability Report, off coalfield area
[ordered online]		 29.00 5.08 34.08

44.00 7.70 51.70
Residential Property Ground Stability Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered by post/telephone]		 50.38 8.82 59.20
Non-Residential Property Ground Stability Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered online] - up to a maximum of 25 hectares in extent		 89.00 15.58 104.58
Non-Residential Property Ground Stability Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered online] - each additional 25 hectares		 89.00 15.58 104.58
Non-Residential Property Ground Stability Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered by post/telephone] - up to a maximum of 25 hectares in extent		 102.55 17.95 120.50
Non-Residential Property Ground Stability Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered by post/telephone] - each additional 25 hectares		 102.55 17.95 120.50
Residential Property Enviro All-in-One Report, off coalfield area
[ordered online]		 36.70 6.42 43.12
Residential Property Enviro All-in-One Report, on coalfield area
[ordered online]		 59.70 10.45 70.15
Residential Property Enviro All-in-One Report, on/off coalfield area
[ordered by post/telephone]		 66.55 11.65 78.20
Claims History Service - subsequent to disclosure of a subsidence damage claim in a report
[ordered by post/telephone only]		 110.00 19.25 129.25
Interpretive Report - subsequent to disclosure of mine entry in a residential report
[ordered by post/telephone only]		 75.00 13.13 88.13

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Q9: How do I apply for property searches?

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Q10: Why has the report I ordered using the online service not arrived?

The majority of reports are returned within 24 hours, the remainder within 72 hours, except in those circumstances where better location particulars have been sought or for larger sites needing manual research of mining records.

Registered users of the service are able to check their order history and view the status of ordered reports. If you have not received your report within 72 hours, you can download/re-email the reports yourself by logging onto the website and downloading or re-emailing a further copy of the search.

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Q11: What do I do if I have concerns about the information in my report?

If your query is service related please contact our helpline.

If you have queries or concerns about the information provided in the report then your solicitor, lender or estate agent can advise if further enquiries are necessary. In most areas there are also experienced mining surveyors and structural engineers able to advise on the occurrence, effect and remedies available to deal with any mining and non-mining related instability or related issues highlighted in the report.

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Q12: How do I become a Registered User?

Register online using the ´Register For Service´ link from the home page of our Online Property Search Service.offsite linkThis enables you to enter the system with a User ID and Password, and for reports to be dispatched to you using pre-recorded address details.

Other benefits include:

  • A Choice of Payment Options - registered customers can choose to pay by credit/debit card with RBS WorldPay, or by invoiced accounts (available to those customers who order on average, more than 5 reports each month, and subject to a formal credit agreement, with the Authority) & credit checks.
  • Volume Related Discount - for customers who order more than 250 reports a month. Please contact our helpline for further details.
  • Service Updates - we will let you know when improvements are made to our service and of changes to our fees.
  • Order History (2 weeks) with the option to: update your own details, check on the status of the report, re-send and re-download reports yourself.

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Q13: How do I apply for a monthly invoiced account?

To apply for an account please select the Account option as your preferred method of payment, when registering or amending your account details. This will automatically notify the Authority to send out the credit agreement form to you - payments can be made by credit card until this credit agreement has been processed and approved by us.

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Q14: Where can I find my account number?

Login to the property search service website as usual, then click onto Change Your Billing Details. Your individual account number (Billing Account Code) is shown at the top of the screen starting with the prefix 613.

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Q15: What Internet browser do I need to use to access this site?

You should be able to view all Coal Authority web sites using the latest versions of the most popular and freely available web browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

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Q16: How can I upgrade my Internet browser?

Upgrades can be obtained from the relevant providers' web sites:

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Q17: What is the difference between the residential and non-residential searches offered?

The residential property search report should be selected for standard, residential property transactions. If this does not apply to the property in question, you will need to order a non-residential report. The residential property search report answers questions 1 to 12 of the current CON29M 2006 edition Law Society Scheme search form (questions 1 to 11 on ScotForm 2006). All residential property searches include insurance cover. If the search is for an existing single unit residential property and the homeowner intends having a conservatory or an extension built, then the residential search should still be appropriate. If major development works are intended then a non-residential search should be made.

The non-residential property search report should be selected for non-domestic properties, i.e. non-residential, commercial or development and other sites. The non-residential property search report answers questions 1 to 15 of the current CON29M 2006 edition Law Society Scheme search form (questions 1 to 13 on ScotForm 2006). The residential property search insurance does not cover non-residential or commercial land or property, or development sites.

All residential Enviro All-in-One reports provided by the Coal Authority in collaboration with GroundSure, will answer all the relevant enquiries made under the Law Society’s CON29M 2006 edition (or ScotForm 2006 edition, as appropriate) together with a fully-interpreted and risk-rated environmental screening report, with a Passed/In Need of Further Assessment certificate. All reports are compiled and interpreted by Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) accredited environmental consultants. The GroundSure element of the report addresses the due diligence issue raised by the Law Society Warning Card on Contaminated land and removes from the property professional the burden of interpreting the results of the report.

All residential and non-residential ground stability reports provided by the Coal Authority in collaboration with British Geological Survey (BGS), will answer all the relevant enquiries made under the Law Society’s CON29M 2006 edition (or ScotForm 2006 edition, as appropriate) together with itemised details of whether the property is in an area where the BGS advise that shrinkable clay, running sand, compressible deposits, collapsible deposits, potential landslide activity or soluble rocks are present, the risks to the property together with professional advice from BGS as to what this means for the homeowner and their representatives. All residential searches will include insurance cover. Additional advice from BGS will be included depending on the property specific reported circumstances.

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Q18: What is an Interpretive Report?

Where reference to a coal mine entry is made in a mining report or in a ground stability report it has been recognised that the increased perception of risk associated with the disclosure of a shaft or mine adit can impact upon the progress of the sale. The Coal Authority has introduced the Interpretive Report in order to provide additional information that it is hoped will assist purchasers, lenders and other interested parties in the decision making process. An Interpretive Report is only available where:

  • The property is an established property, and
  • Mine entries have been revealed in the initial Residential Property Search.

Please note that it may not be possible to produce a report if the main building to the property cannot be identified from Coal Authority plans (ie: for development sites and new builds).

The report provides a separate assessment for each mine entry referred to in this Report. In carrying out this risk assessment, the Authority will take account of the geology beneath the property (based on additional data provided by the British Geological Survey where the Authority's data is incomplete), the possible difference between the actual and plotted position of the mine entry, its source, likely size and any treatment works that the Authority is aware of. Where the report indicates that there is a risk, the level of risk is assessed, and details of any remedies available are provided.

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Q19: What is the Brine Compensation District?

Formed by the Cheshire Brine Pumping (Compensation for Subsidence) Act 1952 as a District within which a person can serve a notice on the Brine Board if they think their property has suffered damage resulting from subsidence caused by extraction of brine. You can and use our free-of-charge property search service at www.groundstability.comoffsite link to see if a search is recommended.

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Q20: What is the Brine Consultation Area?

Defined under section 38 of the 1952 Act as areas which in the opinion of Brine Board are subsiding or liable to subside and where the local planning authority for such areas must consult the Brine Board before determining any application for Planning Permission, approval of plans or Building Regulation applications.

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Q21: What is a Prescribed Notice or a Notice of Damage?

Both these terms mean the same, i.e. a notice served on the Brine Board by the freeholder or long lease holder informing them that in their opinion the property or land has suffered damage resulting from subsidence caused by the extraction of brine.

This document is a pro-forma giving brief details of the owner, property and occupancyAdobe Acrobat document. The term ‘prescribed notice’ is set out under the 1964 Act section 3 (4) and states that the Board may prescribe the form of any notice to be given when informing the Board of damage.

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Q22: What is a Notice of Purchase?

A Notice of PurchaseAdobe Acrobat document is a pro-forma which transfers the rights under a notice of damage from the owner who served the notice on to the new owner of the property.

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Q23: What is a Commutation?

A commutation payment is a payment made under section 32 of the 1952 Act, when in the opinion of the Brine Board the damage is likely to recur, be permanent or to continue, the Brine Board may pay a once and for all sum for past, present and future damage or for a number of years as they think the ongoing damage may continue instead of being claimed from time to time. The method of commutation used by the Brine Board is currently for past, present and future damage only and the sum given is the open market value of the property in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidelines assuming there is no damage to the property.

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Q24: When Do I Need to Supply a Location Plan?

A location plan is necessary when a report is required for either a property that cannot be address matched, an area of land / a development site or if the property has been recently built (i.e. a plot on a new development site).

A location plan should be attached to your application during the ordering process via www.groundstability.comoffsite link - if the property address has to be entered manually (using the full address entry screen) you will be prompted to attach a plan with your application. Alternatively, your plan can be e-mailed to groundstability@coal.gov.uk or faxed to 01623 637 338.

Generally a plan is not necessary when a property has a house number and postcode (i.e. an established, 18 Any Street, Any Town, Any Where, AA1 1AA type address), unless there is a separate garage or car parking space etc. Similarly, when ordering via www.groundstability.comoffsite link and the property can be selected from the list presented at the time of ordering you do not need to supply a plan.

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Q25: What if I have a query about the information from British Geological Survey on the potential for natural ground movement at my property?

Any service related queries should be directed to:

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Q26: What if I have a query about the information from GroundSure on the Environmental section with regard to my property?

Any service related queries should be directed to:

Any technical queries on the content of the report should be directed to:

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