Chartered surveyor
A RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) surveyor is legally entitled to carry out surveys on properties.
Completion date
The date on which the transaction is completed and the property changes hands. Usually this happens after exchange. More rarely exchange and completion are simultaneous .
Contract
The contract sets out the terms of the sale. It will be drawn up by the seller’s solicitor, but will be subject to negotiations before being agreed.
Deposit
Not the same as the deposit that you put down when you take out a mortgage (e.g., you put down 20% and the lender lends 80%). In conveyancing, the deposit is the amount (usually 5 – 10%) paid by the buyer to the seller upon exchange.
Disbursements
This is the fancy terms for “expenses” used by solicitors. Disbursements will include things like search fees and land registry fees. Check that disbursements are included in your quote (most are known in advance) otherwise your bill could be a lot higher than you expect.
Environmental search
This looks at whether the property may be affected by things like flooding, landfill, waste disposal, contaminated land, etc.
Exchange
Once contracts have been signed by both buyer and seller they are exchanged (swapped). Once exchange has taken place the contract is legally binding and if the buyer fails to complete then they may forfeit their deposit (unless they were misled into signing the contract).
Fixtures, fittings and contents form
This sets out what fixtures and fittings are included in the sale, which ones may be included at a specified price and which ones are negotiable. It can either be included in the HIP or sent after an offer has been made. It is prepared by the seller.
Freehold
When the property comes with the land on which it is built.
HIP
Home Information Pack containing basic information and search results for the property. Since 6th April 2009 HIPs have been compulsory and you are required to have a HIP before you market your property (though some documents can be added later as long as it’s within 28 days of commencing marketing).
Indemnity contribution
Solicitors are required to take out insurance to protect their clients in the event of mistakes or fraud when dealing with their case. Usually this fee is charged to the client.
Land Registry
The body that records who owns what land. When a property changes hands it’s the buyer’s solicitor’s job to make sure that this transfer is recorded at the Land Registry.
Leasehold
A leaseholder owns the propertyonly for the term of the lease and does not own the land on which it stands, which is owned by the freeholder. Once the lease ends ownership of the property passes back to the leaseholder.
Local authority search
A search of local authority records for things that may affect the property, such as: whether the road the property stands on is maintained by the council; planning applications that may affect the property; possible planning restrictions; and rights of way.
Check the area covered by the local authority search. If it only covers a limited area you may want to ask for additional enquiries.
Mortgage
The loan from your bank used to buy a property. Because the mortgage is linked to the property being bought the property cannot be sold until the mortgage is paid off.
Mortgage deed
This is a legal document that gives the mortgage lender rights over the property while the mortgage is being repaid.
Mortgage fees
Fees charged by conveyancing solicitors for acting on behalf of their client’s bank or building society.
Mortgage valuation
This is the valuation survey carried out by your bank or building society before they will lend on a property. It is to make sure that the property is worth at least the amount they are proposing to lend. It should not be confused with a property survey (of which there are different kinds) carried out by a Chartered Surveyor – see Surveys.
Property information form
A questionnaire covering basic information about the property. The seller completes this and is legally obliged to answer the questions honestly.
Redemption fee
Some banks charge a penalty fee for paying off a mortgage early or if the mortgage has only been in place for a certain number.
Redemption payment
The payment made in order to pay off the outstanding balance of a mortgage.
SDLT
Stamp Duty Land Tax – see Stamp Duty
Stamp duty
Also known as Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). This is a tax on the purchase of a property and is usually paid by the buyer. The amount is based on the value of the property.
Surveys
Not to be confused with a valuation survey carried out by a lender. A property survey is carried out by a Chartered Surveyor and can look at various things such as the structure of the building and its value. There are different kinds of surveys and their costs vary significantly.
Title deeds
The documents that prove ownership of a property and which set out any rights or obligations affecting the property. If the property is mortgaged then the deeds will be held by the mortgage lender.
Transfer deed
This document (referred to as a TR1) transfers ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer. It will be prepared by the buyer’s solicitor after completion and sent to the Land Registry so the transaction can be recorded.
Water and drainage search
A search of the properties water and drainage supplies. It will check whether these are connected to the main water supply and sewerage system and how the property is billed for these services.
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