diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-facet-filter/search-facet-filter.component.html b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-facet-filter/search-facet-filter.component.html
index aa71c5c24c..8687aeb25b 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-facet-filter/search-facet-filter.component.html
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-facet-filter/search-facet-filter.component.html
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
           [action]="getCurrentUrl()">
         <input type="text" [(ngModel)]="filter" [name]="filterConfig.paramName" class="form-control"
                aria-label="New filter input"
-               [placeholder]="'search.filters.filter.' + filterConfig.name + '.placeholder'| translate"/>
+               [placeholder]="'search.filters.filter.' + filterConfig.name + '.placeholder'| translate"  [ngModelOptions]="{standalone: true}"/>
         <input type="submit" class="d-none"/>
     </form>
-</div>
\ No newline at end of file
+</div>
diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service.spec.ts b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service.spec.ts
index 0ab1e4319d..26eb961c53 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service.spec.ts
@@ -159,28 +159,6 @@ describe('SearchFilterService', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('when the getQueryParamsWithout method is called', () => {
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      spyOn(routeServiceStub, 'removeQueryParameterValue');
-      service.getQueryParamsWithout(mockFilterConfig, value1);
-    });
-
-    it('should call removeQueryParameterValue on the route service with the same parameters', () => {
-      expect(routeServiceStub.removeQueryParameterValue).toHaveBeenCalledWith(mockFilterConfig.paramName, value1);
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('when the getQueryParamsWith method is called', () => {
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      spyOn(routeServiceStub, 'addQueryParameterValue');
-      service.getQueryParamsWith(mockFilterConfig, value1);
-    });
-
-    it('should call addQueryParameterValue on the route service with the same parameters', () => {
-      expect(routeServiceStub.addQueryParameterValue).toHaveBeenCalledWith(mockFilterConfig.paramName, value1);
-    });
-  });
-
   describe('when the getSelectedValuesForFilter method is called', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       spyOn(routeServiceStub, 'getQueryParameterValues');
@@ -192,14 +170,4 @@ describe('SearchFilterService', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('when the uiSearchRoute method is called', () => {
-    let link: string;
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      link = service.searchLink;
-    });
-
-    it('should return the value of uiSearchRoute in the search service', () => {
-      expect(link).toEqual(searchServiceStub.uiSearchRoute);
-    });
-  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filters.component.spec.ts b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filters.component.spec.ts
index 0bdee94634..64c2ea5332 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filters.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-filters/search-filters.component.spec.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
+import { SearchFilterService } from './search-filter/search-filter.service';
 import { SearchFiltersComponent } from './search-filters.component';
 import { SearchService } from '../search-service/search.service';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ describe('SearchFiltersComponent', () => {
     }
     /* tslint:enable:no-empty */
   };
+  const searchFilterServiceStub = jasmine.createSpyObj('SearchFilterService', {
+    getCurrentFilters: Observable.of({})
+  });
 
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
@@ -29,6 +33,7 @@ describe('SearchFiltersComponent', () => {
       declarations: [SearchFiltersComponent],
       providers: [
         { provide: SearchService, useValue: searchServiceStub },
+        { provide: SearchFilterService, useValue: searchFilterServiceStub },
 
       ],
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
@@ -44,17 +49,6 @@ describe('SearchFiltersComponent', () => {
     searchService = (comp as any).searchService;
   });
 
-  describe('when the getClearFiltersQueryParams method is called', () => {
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      spyOn(searchService, 'getClearFiltersQueryParams');
-      comp.getClearFiltersQueryParams();
-    });
-
-    it('should call getClearFiltersQueryParams on the searchService', () => {
-      expect(searchService.getClearFiltersQueryParams).toHaveBeenCalled()
-    });
-  });
-
   describe('when the getSearchLink method is called', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       spyOn(searchService, 'getSearchLink');
diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.html b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.html
index 81f0c78527..c50bb30696 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.html
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.html
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 <div class="container">
   <div class="search-page row">
-        <ds-search-sidebar *ngIf="!(isMobileView | async)" class="col-3 sidebar-md-sticky"
+        <ds-search-sidebar *ngIf="!(isMobileView$ | async)" class="col-3 sidebar-md-sticky"
                          id="search-sidebar"
-                         [resultCount]="(resultsRDObs | async)?.pageInfo?.totalElements"></ds-search-sidebar>
+                         [resultCount]="(resultsRD$ | async)?.pageInfo?.totalElements"></ds-search-sidebar>
         <div class="col-12 col-md-9">
         <ds-search-form id="search-form"
-                        [query]="query"
-                        [scope]="(scopeObjectRDObs | async)?.payload"
+                        [query]="(searchOptions$ | async)?.query"
+                        [scope]="(searchOptions$ | async)?.scope"
                         [currentParams]="currentParams"
-                        [scopes]="(scopeListRDObs | async)?.payload?.page">
+                        [scopes]="(scopeListRD$ | async)?.payload?.page">
         </ds-search-form>
       <div class="row">
         <div id="search-body"
              class="row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left"
              [@pushInOut]="(isSidebarCollapsed() | async) ? 'collapsed' : 'expanded'">
-          <ds-search-sidebar *ngIf="(isMobileView | async)" class="col-12"
+          <ds-search-sidebar *ngIf="(isMobileView$ | async)" class="col-12"
                              id="search-sidebar-sm"
-                             [resultCount]="(resultsRDObs | async)?.pageInfo?.totalElements"
+                             [resultCount]="(resultsRD$ | async)?.pageInfo?.totalElements"
                              (toggleSidebar)="closeSidebar()"
                              [ngClass]="{'active': !(isSidebarCollapsed() | async)}">
           </ds-search-sidebar>
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@
                 | translate}}
               </button>
             </div>
-            <ds-search-results [searchResults]="resultsRDObs | async"
-                               [searchConfig]="searchOptions" [sortConfig]="sortConfig"></ds-search-results>
+            <ds-search-results [searchResults]="resultsRD$ | async"
+                               [searchConfig]="searchOptions$ | async" [sortConfig]="sortConfig"></ds-search-results>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.spec.ts b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.spec.ts
index 8cd041eabb..cc53e18871 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.spec.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing';
 import { Store } from '@ngrx/store';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { cold, hot } from 'jasmine-marbles';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
 import { SortDirection, SortOptions } from '../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
 import { CommunityDataService } from '../core/data/community-data.service';
 import { Community } from '../core/shared/community.model';
 import { HostWindowService } from '../shared/host-window.service';
 import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../shared/pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
+import { PaginatedSearchOptions } from './paginated-search-options.model';
 import { SearchPageComponent } from './search-page.component';
 import { SearchService } from './search-service/search.service';
 import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
@@ -35,12 +37,17 @@ describe('SearchPageComponent', () => {
   pagination.pageSize = 10;
   const sort: SortOptions = new SortOptions();
   const mockResults = Observable.of(['test', 'data']);
-  const searchServiceStub = {
-    searchOptions:{ pagination: pagination, sort: sort },
-    search: () => mockResults
-  };
+  const searchServiceStub = jasmine.createSpyObj('SearchService', {
+    search: mockResults
+  });
   const queryParam = 'test query';
   const scopeParam = '7669c72a-3f2a-451f-a3b9-9210e7a4c02f';
+  const paginatedSearchOptions = {
+    query: queryParam,
+    scope: scopeParam,
+    pagination,
+    sort
+  };
   const activatedRouteStub = {
     queryParams: Observable.of({
       query: queryParam,
@@ -51,20 +58,8 @@ describe('SearchPageComponent', () => {
     isCollapsed: Observable.of(true),
     collapse: () => this.isCollapsed = Observable.of(true),
     expand: () => this.isCollapsed = Observable.of(false)
-  }
-
-  const mockCommunityList = [];
-  const communityDataServiceStub = {
-    findAll: () => Observable.of(mockCommunityList),
-    findById: () => Observable.of(new Community())
   };
 
-  class RouterStub {
-    navigateByUrl(url: string) {
-      return url;
-    }
-  }
-
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot(), RouterTestingModule.withRoutes([]), NoopAnimationsModule, NgbCollapseModule.forRoot()],
@@ -92,7 +87,11 @@ describe('SearchPageComponent', () => {
         },
         {
           provide: SearchFilterService,
-          useValue: {}
+          useValue: jasmine.createSpyObj('SearchFilterService', {
+            getPaginatedSearchOptions: hot('a', {
+              a: paginatedSearchOptions
+            })
+          })
         },
       ],
       schemas: [NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA]
@@ -108,54 +107,10 @@ describe('SearchPageComponent', () => {
     searchServiceObject = (comp as any).service;
   });
 
-  it('should set the scope and query based on the route parameters', () => {
-    expect(comp.query).toBe(queryParam);
-    expect((comp as any).scope).toBe(scopeParam);
-  });
-
-  describe('when update search results is called', () => {
-    let paginationUpdate;
-    let sortUpdate;
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      paginationUpdate = Object.assign(
-        {},
-        new PaginationComponentOptions(),
-        {
-          currentPage: 5,
-          pageSize: 15
-        }
-      );
-      sortUpdate = Object.assign({},
-        new SortOptions(),
-        {
-          direction: SortDirection.Ascending,
-          field: 'test-field'
-        }
-      );
-    });
-
-    it('should call the search function of the search service with the right parameters', () => {
-      spyOn(searchServiceObject, 'search').and.callThrough();
-
-      (comp as any).updateSearchResults({
-        pagination: pagination,
-        sort: sort
-      });
-
-      expect(searchServiceObject.search).toHaveBeenCalledWith(queryParam, scopeParam, {
-        pagination: pagination,
-        sort: sort
-      });
-    });
-
-    it('should update the results', () => {
-      spyOn(searchServiceObject, 'search').and.callThrough();
-
-      (comp as any).updateSearchResults({});
-
-      expect(comp.resultsRDObs as any).toBe(mockResults);
-    });
-
+  it('should get the scope and query from the route parameters', () => {
+    expect(comp.searchOptions$).toBeObservable(cold('b', {
+      b: paginatedSearchOptions
+    }));
   });
 
   describe('when the closeSidebar event is emitted clicked in mobile view', () => {
diff --git a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.ts b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.ts
index 57fb02b730..2a903f884a 100644
--- a/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/+search-page/search-page.component.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, OnDestroy, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
-import { ActivatedRoute } from '@angular/router';
 import { Observable } from 'rxjs/Observable';
+import { flatMap, } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { SortOptions } from '../core/cache/models/sort-options.model';
 import { CommunityDataService } from '../core/data/community-data.service';
 import { PaginatedList } from '../core/data/paginated-list';
@@ -8,14 +8,12 @@ import { RemoteData } from '../core/data/remote-data';
 import { Community } from '../core/shared/community.model';
 import { DSpaceObject } from '../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
 import { pushInOut } from '../shared/animations/push';
-import { isNotEmpty } from '../shared/empty.util';
 import { HostWindowService } from '../shared/host-window.service';
-import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../shared/pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
-import { SearchOptions, ViewMode } from './search-options.model';
+import { PaginatedSearchOptions } from './paginated-search-options.model';
+import { SearchFilterService } from './search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service';
 import { SearchResult } from './search-result.model';
 import { SearchService } from './search-service/search.service';
 import { SearchSidebarService } from './search-sidebar/search-sidebar.service';
-import { SearchFilterService } from './search-filters/search-filter/search-filter.service';
 
 /**
  * This component renders a simple item page.
@@ -30,19 +28,14 @@ import { SearchFilterService } from './search-filters/search-filter/search-filte
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   animations: [pushInOut]
 })
-export class SearchPageComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
+export class SearchPageComponent implements OnInit {
 
-  private sub;
-  private scope: string;
-
-  query: string;
-  scopeObjectRDObs: Observable<RemoteData<DSpaceObject>>;
-  resultsRDObs: Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>>>>;
+  resultsRD$: Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>>>>;
   currentParams = {};
-  searchOptions: SearchOptions;
+  searchOptions$: Observable<PaginatedSearchOptions>;
   sortConfig: SortOptions;
-  scopeListRDObs: Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Community>>>;
-  isMobileView: Observable<boolean>;
+  scopeListRD$: Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Community>>>;
+  isMobileView$: Observable<boolean>;
   pageSize;
   pageSizeOptions;
   defaults = {
@@ -58,27 +51,19 @@ export class SearchPageComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
               private sidebarService: SearchSidebarService,
               private windowService: HostWindowService,
               private filterService: SearchFilterService) {
-    this.isMobileView = Observable.combineLatest(
+    this.isMobileView$ = Observable.combineLatest(
       this.windowService.isXs(),
       this.windowService.isSm(),
       ((isXs, isSm) => isXs || isSm)
     );
-    this.scopeListRDObs = communityService.findAll();
+    this.scopeListRD$ = communityService.findAll();
   }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
-    this.sub = this.filterService.getPaginatedSearchOptions(this.defaults).subscribe((options) => {
-      this.updateSearchResults(options);
-    });
-  }
-
-  private updateSearchResults(searchOptions) {
-    this.resultsRDObs = this.service.search(searchOptions);
-    this.searchOptions = searchOptions;
-  }
-
-  ngOnDestroy() {
-    this.sub.unsubscribe();
+    this.searchOptions$ = this.filterService.getPaginatedSearchOptions(this.defaults);
+    this.resultsRD$ = this.searchOptions$.pipe(
+      flatMap((searchOptions) => this.service.search(searchOptions))
+    );
   }
 
   public closeSidebar(): void {
diff --git a/src/app/core/shared/hal-endpoint.service.spec.ts b/src/app/core/shared/hal-endpoint.service.spec.ts
index 479e15b52a..0c2afe938b 100644
--- a/src/app/core/shared/hal-endpoint.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/shared/hal-endpoint.service.spec.ts
@@ -17,18 +17,6 @@ describe('HALEndpointService', () => {
   };
   const linkPath = 'test';
 
-  /* tslint:disable:no-shadowed-variable */
-  class TestService extends HALEndpointService {
-
-    constructor(private responseCache: ResponseCacheService,
-                private requestService: RequestService,
-                private EnvConfig: GlobalConfig) {
-      super(responseCache, requestService, EnvConfig);
-    }
-  }
-
-  /* tslint:enable:no-shadowed-variable */
-
   describe('getRootEndpointMap', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       responseCache = jasmine.createSpyObj('responseCache', {
@@ -45,7 +33,7 @@ describe('HALEndpointService', () => {
         rest: { baseUrl: 'https://rest.api/' }
       } as any;
 
-      service = new TestService(
+      service = new HALEndpointService(
         responseCache,
         requestService,
         envConfig
@@ -73,7 +61,7 @@ describe('HALEndpointService', () => {
         rest: { baseUrl: 'https://rest.api/' }
       } as any;
 
-      service = new TestService(
+      service = new HALEndpointService(
         responseCache,
         requestService,
         envConfig
@@ -100,7 +88,7 @@ describe('HALEndpointService', () => {
 
   describe('isEnabledOnRestApi', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
-      service = new TestService(
+      service = new HALEndpointService(
         responseCache,
         requestService,
         envConfig
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.spec.ts
index ee1a8cd8f5..d148429b01 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.spec.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ describe('SearchFormComponent', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges();
 
     const testCommunity = objects[1];
-    comp.scope = testCommunity;
+    comp.scope = testCommunity.id;
 
     fixture.detectChanges();
     tick();
diff --git a/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.ts b/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.ts
index fb3c6ba5a2..478df3bb65 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/search-form/search-form.component.ts
@@ -22,10 +22,8 @@ export class SearchFormComponent {
   @Input() scopes: DSpaceObject[];
 
   @Input()
-  set scope(dso: DSpaceObject) {
-    if (hasValue(dso)) {
-      this.selectedId = dso.id;
-    }
+  set scope(id: string) {
+    this.selectedId = id;
   }
 
   constructor(private router: Router) {