Test the life you would actually lead
Begin with your normal week: work, school, shopping and appointments. Try those journeys from the home you are considering and check current public transport connections, not just distances on a map. Visit at different times and, if possible, in more than one season.
Broadband and mobile reception should be checked for the exact address. Ask the agent about the current services and use provider availability and coverage checks; a neighbouring property or a town-wide claim does not guarantee the same connection.
Check schools before choosing an address
Cornwall uses designated school areas, and the nearest school may not be the designated one. Read Cornwall Council’s admissions guidance and check place availability and any travel-assistance rules before basing a purchase or tenancy on a particular school.
For a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan, contact Cornwall’s Statutory SEND Service early. The council advises checking provision and placement availability before moving into the county.
Do the property-specific checks
Use the Environment Agency’s long-term flood-risk service as a starting point and discuss the results with your solicitor and insurer. Cornwall Council warns that mapping has limitations; it is not a substitute for a property-level assessment.
Ask your solicitor which searches and surveys are appropriate for the address, including any relevant mining, radon, planning, tenure or use restrictions. This is a general checklist, not legal advice, and it cannot establish the suitability of an individual home.
Once the move is agreed
Cornwall Council’s moving guide brings together council-tax registration, electoral registration, waste and recycling arrangements. Add these to your moving checklist alongside utilities, insurance and changes of address.
For second homes or holiday letting, check the council’s current council-tax guidance and obtain professional advice on any planning or occupancy restrictions. Rules and individual circumstances can change; avoid relying on an old headline or assuming every property can be used in the same way.
