A Step by Step Guide to carrying out due diligence

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Posted on 28 July 2025

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1. Find your site by driving around and searching for it (time and cost), searching Google Streetview (out of date), or contacting agents (if you happen to be their favourite client). If this all seems a bit too complicated, scroll to the bottom and you'll find another option...
2. Carry out a search on www.landregistry.gov.uk to find out who owns the site - print off the land registry information. If you look at Section C at the end, it will tell you what other restrictions there are on the title, e.g. easements (often an agreement to allow a utility company to install its apparatus on or through the property or land).
3. Check that the site isn't under water, in a heritage conservation area, or part of a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
4. Check for contamination - no one likes to find a hidden coal shaft - (look at local authority records and past planning information)
5. Check out the basic viability of the site - use our Land Value Calculator to give you an indication of what the land is likely to be worth.
6. If you've carried out all of the above steps and are happy, you're probably now in a position to make an offer...but..
7. Check that you have sufficient funding - depending on what you've found out about the site, you may need more money than you initially anticipated, so it's best to know in advance.

If you're still not finding those opportunities, or are missing out on them at the last minute, try using Land Attic as an alternative. We can send site opportunities directly to you. If you're struggling with any of the above steps, such as finding out title information, planning and environmental information, please do sign up to Land Attic; we're partnered with a Geospatial platform which provides all of this information.

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