Jargon Buster

As if the whole experience wasn’t daunting enough, you’re bound to hear a lot of property jargon being thrown about. We promise this isn’t just used to confuse you! However, we have compiled a short list of property terms to help assist you with the house buying process:

Chain: This is the sequence of buyers and sellers – most people who sell their property are also buying at the same time. Therefore there can be a chain of a number of sellers, who depend on each other for the sale and purchase of their new properties. For example, if one buyer or seller drops out, the chain may collapse, whereby the paperwork for the properties within the chain is delayed or cancelled.

Chain Free: This is when the owner of the property does not need to sell the property in order to buy another; therefore it is offered as chain free.

Completion Date: The date when the transaction (either the sale or purchase of a property) is completed, i.e. the date you become the owner.

Completion Statement: A statement from the solicitor detailing all financial transactions, including all costs.

Conditions of Sale: The terms by which the buyer and seller agree to sell/buy the property. The Law Society sets standard conditions. The lawyer sets special conditions.

Contract: The legally binding agreement specifying details of the house sale or house purchase. The contract legally commits both the buyer and the seller to the transaction. The house seller’s conveyancing lawyer draws up two copies of the same contract and each party signs their own copy. When both parties are ready to legally commit, the two contracts are exchanged.

Conveyancer: The property lawyer who manages all of the matters arising from the sale of a house or the purchase of a house. Can be a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer.

Conveyance or Transfer: The legally binding document that transfers the rights, burdens and the benefit of the land.

Council for Licensed Conveyancers: A regulatory body for conveyancing with whom all conveyancers should be registered.

Deeds: Legal title document which provides historical information about the property.

Deposit: The amount paid to exchange contracts. Only refundable in exceptional circumstances. Contracts provide for 10% of the purchase/sale price but can often be negotiated to a lower level.

Disbursements: Out-of-pocket expenses paid by the solicitor/licensed conveyancer on the buyer’s behalf, such as stamp duty, land registry charges and search fees.

Easement: A right given to the house owner over an adjoining property (e.g. right of way).

EPC: Energy performance certificate – part of a home information pack.

Equity: This is what you actually own – the difference between the market value of your property and the amount of the loan you still owe to your lender.

Exchange of Contract: The point that both parties are committed to the transaction.

Fixtures and Fittings: A list of the items at the property, which are either included or excluded from the agreed price.

Flexible Mortgage: Mortgages that are flexible in terms of how you pay the loan back.

Freehold: One of the two current tenures of land recognised by English law. This recognises the whole of the land, not just a building.

FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent body concerned with consumer protection in the financial market.

Gazumping: When the house seller accepts a higher price offer from another house buyer after the initial offer has been accepted.

Indemnity Insurance: An insurance taken out by conveyancing firms to cover losses to clients arising from errors or fraud in dealing with their matters.

Land Registry Fees: Fees paid by your conveyancing lawyer on the buyer’s behalf to register the ownership of property with the Land Registry.

Land Registry: A government office that stores records of land ownership and any charges, like a mortgage.

Leasehold: The second current tenure of land recognised by English law. This is over a term of years and not unlimited. There will be a Landlord who will own the freehold. This usually relates to a flat or apartment.

Licensed Conveyancer: A licensed conveyancer is a specialist property lawyer, someone who is trained and qualified in all aspects of the law dealing with property. Licensed conveyancers are sufficient to secure adequate protection for consumers and that the conveyancing services provided by such persons are provided both economically and efficiently.

Mortgage Deed: The legal agreement that gives the lender a legal right to property.

Mortgage Fees: Normally charged by your financial advisor. These are for their acting on behalf of your bank or building society.

Redemption Fee: An Early Repayment Charge which can be charged by your existing mortgage lender if you pay off your mortgage early or you move to a different mortgage.

Searches: A method of checking matters that may affect the value of the property. The only obligatory one before an exchange is a Local Authority Search which covers items such as road maintenance and planning applications. The search covers the property, not the surrounding area.

Stamp Duty:

There has been a huge change to the stamp duty that is payable which runs until 31st March 2021.

In one of the biggest changes to the property market for some time, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has introduced a stamp duty holiday which is now in place and runs up until 31st March 2021. This £4bn stimulus to the property market has been launched with a single purpose – to stimulate the market and encourage potential buyers onto the property ladder.

“The average stamp duty bill will fall by £4,500 and nearly nine out of 10 people buying a main home this year will pay no stamp duty at all,” said Sunak in his summer statement.

Click here for more information

Survey: A report produced by a building surveyor for the purpose of determining the value of the property and if it is structurally sound.

Subject to Contract: A provisional agreement between the house buyer and the house seller that is not legally binding.

Transfer Document: The final document that transfers the property from the house seller to the house buyer.

Valuation Survey: A survey to allow a property value to be determined for mortgage purposes. This is not to be confused with a structural survey.

White Hot Property: A property that has been acquired by a developer or financial institution as part of a part-exchange, repossession or probate transaction and is priced to achieve a quick sale.

Cardwells Estate Agents has offices in Bolton and Bury, with our areas of selling covering much of Lancashire. We have property for sale around the North West, including Manchester. We will be more than happy to help you with any aspect of the home buying experience, whether it’s simply just a bit of advice with any of the above jargon or you’ve set your heart on a property but aren’t sure what to do next. Call into one of our branches (we also cover Walkden and Worsley) or pay us a visit to see exactly what we can do for you.